Luisangel Acuna is showing he can be a pretty important 26th man on the NY Mets

Amid all the New York Mets offseason noise, winter ball is where Luisangel Acuña is making his presence felt. While attention stays fixed on big names and contracts, Acuña is putting together something far more interesting under warmer skies. His swings look sharper, his at-bats more controlled, and his results suggest he’s pushing for more than a depth role.

What makes his case even more interesting is the way he’s been used. A third of his games coming in center field hints at a player who understands the math of playing time now that Marcus Semien locks down second without negotiation. Acuña is treating winter ball like a résumé showcase, flashing the kind of versatility, contact skills, and baserunning spark that could make him surprisingly valuable when the Mets start counting roster spots.

Luisangel Acuña’s jump in extra-base hits and CF work proves he can give the Mets real flexibility

His case starts with what he is doing in the Venezuela Winter League, where a .276/ .427/ .553 line with 11 extra-base hits,16 RBI, and 17 walks in 76 at-bats stands in stark contrast to last year’s .234/ .293/ .274 7 XBH and 8 RBI effort. In roughly 60% fewer at-bats, he has already passed his 2025 totals in extra-base hits, RBIs, and walks. It is the kind of statistical jump that forces a second look, especially after a season where nothing quite clicked at the plate.

All of this arrives at a moment when the Mets are reshaping the lanes to playing time. Marcus Semien’s arrival means second base is locked down, removing the rotation that gave Acuña scattered opportunities a year ago. He did play third base and shortstop, so the infield isn’t closed to him, but he cannot rely on second as a fallback anymore. The rest of his game has to carry its share of the argument.

That’s why his winter workload in center field matters. Eight of his 22 starts have come there, building on the 37 games he logged in Syracuse over the last two seasons. It is a role he knows, and these reps are a timely reminder that he can offer coverage at a position the Mets cannot treat lightly.

Carson Benge, the 21st-ranked MLB prospect, will enter spring training with a real chance to take that center field job outright. If he does, it won’t diminish Acuña’s importance. It will simply redefine it. A roster needs players who can shift between the infield and outfield, step in when a starter gets a day off, and bring enough offensive life to hold their spot. Acuña’s winter production is the kind of foundation that can support that profile rather than limit him to a late-inning pinch runner.

Spring will determine whether this winter's momentum translates to a bigger role, but now Acuña’s objective is unmistakable: prove to the Mets he can handle multiple positions and continue driving his offensive progress. Accomplish that, and he won’t just slip onto the roster as the 26th man—he’ll be a steadying, indispensable presence when the Mets need it most.