'Just the way life is': Vientos sent back to Triple-A

NEW YORK -- At the end of Spring Training, when the Mets made the difficult decision to option Mark Vientos back to Triple-A Syracuse, Vientos made his displeasure known. Recalling that conversation on multiple occasions since, manager Carlos Mendoza and president of baseball operations David Stearns both described Vientos as frustrated and upset.

“And rightfully so,” the manager added this week. “He should be frustrated.”

When the Mets optioned Vientos back to Syracuse on Tuesday, however, Mendoza noted that the discussion was easier. Even though Mendoza never told him explicitly that his time in Flushing would last only three days, Vientos figured he would go back to the Minors once Starling Marte returned from the bereavement list. Marte did so on Tuesday, pushing Vientos to Syracuse.

“He handled it very professionally -- I’ll give him credit for that,” Mendoza said.

“I was hoping for longer, but they kind of gave me an idea that it was just for Marte,” added Vientos. “I’m not really surprised.”

So continued the serpentine career arc of Vientos, a player who debuted in 2022 but didn’t break camp with the team the following spring, who made it back to the Majors last May but played only sparingly, who initially struggled to find regular at-bats even after the Mets began selling off pieces at the 2023 Trade Deadline. Now 24, Vientos is still searching for consistent playing time at the Major League level.

Offensively, he has nothing left to prove in the Minors, with a .926 career OPS over 196 games at Triple-A. Defense is another story. When the Mets sent Vientos down at the end of Spring Training, team officials told him they wanted him to improve at third base. While Mendoza cited recent improvements in Vientos’ footwork and confidence, Stearns indicated he would still like to see more progress in that area.

“I think at times, it was really good, and there were at times some mistakes as well,” the president of baseball operations said. “And that’s going to be natural. That’s part of a natural progression.”

Still, if the Mets had a role for Vientos in Flushing, he would still be here. Their signing of J.D. Martinez late in Spring Training effectively ensured that only one of Vientos or Brett Baty could be on the active roster. Baty earned that nod. Following a hot start, Baty has slumped, but Mets officials have been pleased with his defensive improvements and don’t want to damage his confidence by demoting him after a few lackluster weeks at the plate. The fact that Vientos hit a walk-off homer on Sunday was never going to change that situation.

The season is long, and roster spots will open eventually -- “He’s going to be a big part of this team going forward,” Mendoza said. Until then, Vientos wants to make sure he continues positioning himself as an option.

“It’s not challenging. It’s just the way life is,” Vientos said. “There’s always obstacles in life. Now it’s for me to see how I take advantage of my chances, my opportunity. I’ve just got to put my head down and keep working.”