With every passing baseball season, Mark Vientos feels more at home in New York. It’s why he was happy to help the Amazin’ Mets Foundation hand out turkeys, boxes of stuffing and other Thanksgiving items to members of the community Friday, going from the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation in Washington Heights, to Queensborough Community College in Bayside.
“Giving back to the community and helping people enjoy Thanksgiving, that’s what it’s all about,” Vientos said.
Vientos, who will be 26 next month, would like to stay in New York with the team that drafted him in 2017, but he knows that could be out of his control. For years, his name has been attached to trade rumors, and this winter is no different. He’s not paying attention to any of them at the moment, choosing to focus on what he has control over instead of what he doesn’t.
“I think I’ve been doing a better job of turning my phone off and just staying focused on what’s going on in the present,” he said. “I’m just enjoying family time, especially in the offseason. But we’ll see what happens. I mean, it’s nothing I can control. The only thing I can control is being ready for next season.”
Vientos couldn’t follow up on a stellar 2024 campaign, struggling defensively and at the plate last season. As a result, he was constantly trying to fix something in his game, instead of relying on the fundamentals and the certainty of having an established preparation process. While there are individual aspects he’s working on this winter, what he’s hoping to find is a consistent routine.
“I think the biggest thing is just having a routine in place to just stay committed to,” he said. “I think when you have a routine in place and things start to go sideways, you just have something to lean back on, and I felt like, this past year, I didn’t have that. I was searching — searching the whole season. It’s not a good feeling when you’re searching and trying to have success at the same time.”
While he might have tuned out the hot stove chatter, Vientos is tuned in to what the Mets think about his defense. Drafted as a third baseman with the ability to play first base and left field in an emergency, Vientos has never been known for his glove. He made tremendous strides at the hot corner in 2024, only to regress in 2025.
It cost him playing time. Brett Baty, his good friend and longtime teammate, outplayed him down the stretch. The Mets are currently planning on penciling in Baty at third base. Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña will likely compete for the utility infield spot in spring training.
Where that leaves Vientos is unknown.
Last week at the general manager meetings, president of baseball operations David Stearns said the playing time for Vientos will depend on his bat, labeling him a “bat-first” player.
Vientos heard the comments and took them in stride. He’s working hard on his defense, taking equal reps at first and third this winter, hoping to improve his lateral range, something the organization has asked him to work on.
“I think the biggest thing is just my range factor,” Vientos said. “I think when it comes to the metrics, range is where I’m deficient. I’m just trying to work on my lateral movement, trying to make it as challenging as possible when I work this offseason, and trying to get the best out of [myself].”
Vientos has been in touch with the new coaches, especially bench coach Kai Correa. A known defensive whiz who was hired to help the Mets improve their run prevention efforts, Correa is closer in age to the players than many of the coaches at 37 years old. Vientos found a connection early on with Correa, a native of Hilo, Hawaii. Vientos’s girlfriend is from Hawaii as well.
“Whether I could become an average defender or above average defender, we’ll see,” Vientos said. “But I’m working to maximize my potential, and I think right now, what I’m focused on is the range aspect. That’s what all of the coaches are kind of like pushing me towards.”
If he took any offense to the criticism from Stearns, it doesn’t show. They seem to have done little to diminish his enthusiasm for this winter work period, and the season ahead. Vientos took some time to go to Oahu to see where his girlfriend grew up, trading baseball for hiking and snorkeling, pushing himself outside of his comfort zone in the water.
But once he returned to his offseason home near Miami, he was ready to get back to work.
“I feel like this is weird to say, but after last season, the way it didn’t work out, I feel excited going into the offseason,” he said. “There’s just so much to get better with, and so much to look forward to in the following year.”
NOTES
The Mets non-tendered left-handed relievers Jose Castillo and Danny Young, as well as right-hander Max Kranick on Friday afternoon. Kranick is recovering from flexor tendon repair surgery, while Young is rehabbing from Tommy John.
The club came to terms with center fielder Tyrone Taylor on a one-year contract for $3.8 million. All other players on the roster were tendered contracts.
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