3 struggling NY Mets players off to a slow start we should be concerned about

Baseball has a funny way of making fools out of spring optimism. A few loud March games, a couple of opposite-field doubles, a slick backhand play, and suddenly we’re talking about breakout seasons at the office water cooler. But now that the calendar’s flipped to April, reality’s tapping a few New York Mets on the shoulder, and fans are starting to recognize the feeling. The swings look familiar, and the results are hovering around numbers we’ve seen before. It’s still early, sure, so we can’t exactly go full Will Ferrell mode and scream about keeping our composure—but a few names on this roster are already giving off that unmistakable vibe: this might not fix itself.

1) Brett Baty

Of all the spring headlines not involving contract ink, the biggest story was that Brett Baty had seemingly found his swing. After 51 at-bats in Port St. Lucie, it looked like the struggles of the past three seasons had been put to rest. A .353 average, 1.186 OPS, four home runs, and 11 RBIs will do that. Add in a few solid plays at second base, and the breakout was coming. Fans were optimistic, hoping this was the start of something bigger for the young third baseman. The narrative seemed to shift overnight as if the wait was finally over.

Then the season started. Now, 12 games and 27 regular-season at-bats later, the numbers tell a different story. Baty’s hitting .111 with a .259 OPS and 11 strikeouts, and his chase rate is in the bottom 10% of the league. He’s struggling to make consistent contact, and his approach at the plate looks uncertain. Worse yet, his at-bats seem to be following him onto the field, as the pressure at the plate creeps into his defense. A key error in Wednesday’s game against the Marlins only added to the growing concerns.

Suddenly, Carlos Mendoza is fielding questions about Baty’s confidence, something no manager wants to address this early. With Jeff McNeil on track to return by the end of April, Baty’s opportunities may be running out. If things don’t turn around quickly, his next stop might be Syracuse.