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4 hours ago
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The New York Mets likely thought Mark Vientos was going to become a superstar this year, after he put together a great season last year, capped off with a dominant postseason.
Last year, Vientos slashed .266/.322/.516 with 27 home runs. In the postseason, he hit .327 with a .998 OPS with five home runs. However, Vientos struggled to start the season this year. He was hitting .230 with a .678 OPS in 53 games before he landed on the injured list. Vientos is coming back this week, and he opened up about his fall-off from last season.
"If you thought you were going to come into the big leagues again and it was going to be a walk in the park, you've got another thing coming," Vientos told reporters. "I felt like I got humbled a little bit, and I appreciate that, because I love this game so much. Reasons like the first couple months of the season is why I love it so much - it keeps my on my toes, it keeps me wanting to work harder and harder and keep getting better."
Vientos, like everyone else, likely thought he would pick up where he left off last year. His bat was a huge reason the Mets made it to the National League Championship Series.
Now that he is back, after a rehab stint in Triple-A, Vientos will have a chance to rewrite the course of his season. Perhaps his new mindset after some time away from the team will allow him to focus on getting back to the player he was last year.
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If Vientos can start playing close to how he did last year, the Mets' infield could start doing some serious damage. Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso are already great, but getting more production from the third base spot could change the outlook of the Mets' offense. The Mets still have some question marks at second base and in the outfield. However, getting an elite version of Vientos could play a huge role in winning the division.
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