Mets Player Meter: June 1-14 Performance Review

The New York Mets have maintained a .500 record in June, showcasing a mix of highs and lows among their position players. Leading the charge is Juan Soto, who remains the team’s most reliable hitter, while Bo Bichette shows signs of heating up, marking his second consecutive week in the green. However, Mark Vientos has seen his stock plummet, losing at-bats to Jared Young, while Carson Benge has emerged as a standout performer. Notably, Francisco Alvarez made a surprising return from a torn meniscus, rejoining the lineup much earlier than expected.

Vientos’ struggles have become a concern for manager Carlos Mendoza, who recently indicated that the young player must earn his at-bats. Vientos has participated in only seven of the Mets’ last 12 games, managing just one hit throughout June. His performance has been marred by a high strikeout rate, as he has fanned in seven of his 16 plate appearances. In contrast, Young has capitalized on his opportunities, boasting a 114 wRC+ in June over 46 plate appearances, with half of his ten hits going for extra bases, including three home runs and seven RBIs—second-most on the team.

Brett Baty’s performance has also dipped, with a 44 wRC+ in June thus far. Over his last 42 plate appearances, he has recorded only eight hits, with just one being an extra-base hit. While Baty has managed to walk three times and drive in three runs, MJ Melendez has seen increased playing time, posting a 99 wRC+ in 32 plate appearances. Melendez’s contributions include three extra-base hits, one of which is a home run, along with four walks—second-most on the team in this stretch.

On the brighter side, Bo Bichette has excelled, leading the Mets with 12 RBIs and 16 hits over the last 12 games, while his impressive 159 wRC+ tops the team. His standout moment came during the series opener against the Braves, where he hit two home runs, including a grand slam that propelled the Mets to a crucial victory. If the Mets hope to turn their season around, Bichette’s resurgence could prove pivotal.

Juan Soto’s continued productivity is another key factor. Although not quite as dominant as he was at the end of May, Soto still boasts a solid 121 wRC+ across 51 plate appearances, contributing 11 hits, two home runs, and two doubles, along with five runs scored and five RBIs. Notably, he leads the team in walks with seven and ranks third in the National League for OPS going into Monday’s series opener in Cincinnati, having gone over 30 plate appearances without a strikeout.

Carson Benge has solidified his role as a productive everyday player, maintaining a strong 137 wRC+ in June over 51 plate appearances. The Mets’ outfield trio has shined, with A.J. Ewing also contributing a 130 wRC+ in 46 plate appearances. Each rookie outfielder has amassed 13 hits, trailing only Bichette for the team lead. Benge’s nine runs scored lead the team, while Ewing has tallied three RBIs and six runs, along with three stolen bases—the only Met to record multiple steals in the past two weeks.

Francisco Alvarez’s early return from injury was nothing short of remarkable, and he made an immediate impact with three hits, including a home run, in his first 14 plate appearances since activation. Luis Torrens has also been productive, with six hits—three of which were extra-base hits—over 27 plate appearances, yielding an 89 wRC+. Torrens has driven in two runs and scored five. Following Alvarez’s return, Hayden Senger was sent back to Triple-A after going hitless in two at-bats.

Marcus Semien has shown some improvement, lifting himself out of a slump with an 85 wRC+ in June across 48 plate appearances. He leads the Mets with four home runs, which account for all of his RBIs and a majority of his runs scored during this stretch. Semien has also contributed three walks and a stolen base.

Finally, Vidal Brújan and Eric Wagaman have had limited opportunities off the bench, with Wagaman reaching base once on a hit by pitch and striking out in his other two plate appearances, while Brújan has been unable to reach base in his two at-bats.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.