NY Mets prospect Brett Baty getting work in at a new position

Brett Baty is viewed, by many, as the future third baseman of the New York Mets. He’s hitting well this year at Single-A with the Brooklyn Cyclones and nearing a promotion to Double-A where he can tackle a few months of facing some better pitching.

As a first-round draft pick, his path to reach the majors looked set. However, it may not be the one we originally thought.

This weekend, Baty played left field for the first time as a professional. Moving from third base to left field could allow the Mets to continue with another notable prospect, Mark Vientos, at the hot corner. Whatever the plan is, the Mets organization is doing whatever they can to get the most from their farm system.

What moving Brett Baty to left field means for the future of the Mets

Left field has been a weak position in the history of the Mets. It’s the only position where there’s no clear-cut number one guy on the all-time list. This isn’t so much a Mets issue. Left field is a spot where guys from other positions tend to get hidden. Look no further than the current roster with Dominic Smith.

Smith’s future with the Mets remains debatable. If the DH comes back to the NL, there’s an obvious plan. Smith can move to first base and Pete Alonso, the weaker defender at the position, becomes the more regular DH. It’s simple but not necessarily the exact way things will go down.

Something the Mets have done well—whether on purpose or not—is create a situation where multiple positons on the farm are locked up with some highly-touted prospects. Baty’s move to left field, permanent or not, gives them another spot where we could see a youngster reach the majors and take the position. It can allow the Mets to move forward with Baty and Vientos on the same roster and get each as many at-bats as possible.

One other consideration I feel the need to mention is the possibility of the Mets making a move at third base outside of the organization. We can’t expect all of these prospects to turn into studs. Some are going to fall flat.

The Mets made it pretty clear they don’t want J.D. Davis as a long-term third baseman. They may accept it, however, he doesn’t seem to fit in with their plans.

Third base isn’t a position that should be neglected. The league is full of some noteworthy sluggers at the spot. While some fans may welcome the idea of Luis Guillorme playing there every day, he’s not exactly cut from the same cloth as the 30+ home run caliber middle-of-the-order guys.

As we’ve witnessed this year, the Mets could use one of those guys.

Want your voice heard? Join the Rising Apple team!

Write for us!

Baty’s bat is progressing well this season. If moving him to the outfield can get him to the majors faster and give the big league club the best roster possible, it’s a wise decision to make this early on in his career.