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As Opening Day approaches, Mark Vientos needs to start figuring it out offensively.
The New York Mets infielder has dealt with questions about his role and early struggles at the plate, but to his credit, his outlook hasn’t changed. Rather than worrying, Vientos understands that there will be struggles at the highest level, and he needs to stick with his mindset of playing hard daily.
Speaking with Max Goodman of NJ.com, Vientos made it clear that he’s embracing the challenge that comes with earning consistent playing time.
“If I focus on the results right now, I’ll be a very stressed-out person,” Vientos told NJ.com. “Right now, I’m focusing on hard contact, good ABs and that’s it.
“This isn’t anything new,” Vientos told Goodman. “Coming into the league, it was an earn your stripes type of situation — I earned them, I was playing every day. I feel like this year might be the same thing — it’s just earn at-bats and that’s fine, I’ll earn them, I’m ready.”
The mindset is a good thing, but the harsh reality is that if Vientos doesn’t figure it out, he won’t have much of a chance to play. Opportunities won’t be guaranteed early on, especially with the way he’s played.
If he can translate that mentality into production, it wouldn’t take long for him to be in a fine spot. However, that hasn’t been the case.
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