NEW YORK -- Mark Vientos’ disappointing season took another downturn on Thursday, when he exited the Mets’ 7-3 win over the Royals at Citi Field after two innings after being struck on the right hand by a 92.2 mph Michael Wacha sinker.
Clearly in pain, Vientos initially stayed in the game after Wacha hit him in the bottom of the second, but he did not go back out for defense the next half-inning. Vientos had been making his second start of the season at third base.
After the game, the Mets announced that Vientos had suffered a hand fracture that would likely send him to the injured list.
Through 73 games, Vientos was batting just .211/.256/.388 with 11 home runs, losing playing time to various teammates. He has not been able to recapture the magic of what appeared to be a breakout 2024 season. That year, Vientos produced an .838 OPS. In two seasons since, his OPS has fallen to .680.
With Vientos sidelined, Brett Baty slid over to third base, while A.J. Ewing moved to second for the first time in his Major League career. Though Ewing appeared in 53 games at second base in the Minors, he has focused more on center field over the past two seasons.
Should Vientos miss time, recently demoted infielder Ronny Mauricio would be a candidate to come back up to replace him.