PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mets infielder Mark Vientos, who is seeking a bigger role in 2024, visited teammate Francisco Lindor “twice” this offseason, he revealed, to work on several things.
On Tuesday, Vientos, 24, dished on his meetings with Lindor after a productive morning of workouts at the Mets’ spring training complex.
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We worked on “my legs defensively and then hitting — the approach, the thought process in the box, what you’re thinking in different game situations,” Vientos said. “It’s just a different mindset compared to me coming up through the minors and then going to the major leagues. Obviously, every game matters in the major leagues.
“So just picking his brain. He taught me a lot and I was very fortunate that he invited me out there and I got some good work with him, so I was happy for that.”
A video shared by Vientos on social media early in December showed the two-time Gold Glove Award winner observing and instructing Vientos during fielding drills that took place in Lindor’s native Puerto Rico.
Vientos self-describes himself as “a power hitter” who “could hit the ball good,” and he’s right. Since 2021, Vientos has a .563 slugging percentage in 920 at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A.
The problem is that he hasn’t been able to replicate that at the big-league level. That’s where he has just 52 hits in 254 career at-bats, a .205 batting average and .610 OPS, behind 17 extra-base hits, including 10 home runs.
Vientos disclosed that he arrived at the complex last Monday. Hitters don’t have to report until next Monday, giving him a two-week jump. He says he made the trip to Florida so early because he just couldn’t wait to get started.
“I was kind of that, like, I want to go already (feeling),” Vientos said. “And I had second thoughts, like, ‘oh, is it too early,’ but no I mean, this is this is what I love to do. I want to be out here already. I’ve…
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