Marcus Semien has exactly two months to avoid a major NY Mets embarrassment

Now that the New York Mets' 12-game losing streak is mercifully, finally over, it's time to turn our attention ahead to what the rest of 2026 holds.

What better way to do that then by perusing the Mets' promotional schedule? There's Bark at the Park (i.e., bring your dog to baseball day) on April 28, Mookie Wilson Bobblehead Night on May 12, Star Wars Night on May 14, and then, at the end of June, there's... oh. Oh no.

Yes, Marcus Semien's jersey will be given away on June 24 to the first 15,000 fans in attendance. Whether or not those fans actually accept those free jerseys is another matter.

Marcus Semien is capable of turning his season around before Mets jersey giveaway

Rising Apple's Tim Boyle had this to say about Semien's night of honor when the promotion schedule was first released: "If he’s hitting .230 and only giving the Mets strong defense at second base, this isn’t going to be an abundantly popular item. June 24 is a scary day for this, too. It was the time when things were finally beginning to turn around for the 2024 Mets. In 2025, it was in the middle of their descent."

I'm not exactly sure how Tim was bestowed with the Gift of Apollo while writing that, but just one month into the 2026 season, Semien has proven him prescient. The 35-year-old second baseman is hitting .239/.299/.330, good for an 81 wRC+ that registers as a full-season career low. His defense has at least been up to snuff (+1 OAA and DRS apiece), though that won't be enough for fans to overlook his shortcomings at the plate.

About the only thing wrong in Tim's prediction is that the Mets' collapse took three weeks, not three months, to start this year.

This sets the stage for a rather disastrous night at Citi Field, wherein the Mets are listlessly wading toward a trade deadline sell-off and Semien is phoning in a batting average around the Mendoza line. If that comes to pass in two months' time, it'll mark yet another low point in a season already chock full of them.

However, this doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. It's only April 24. The season isn't even 20% over yet. Semien, despite his slow start, does have some promising underlying numbers to suggest that a turnaround could be on the way.

For one thing, his plate discipline remains above average, as his chase, whiff, and strikeout rates all rank in the top of the league among qualified hitters this year. Likewise, he remains a strong defender and great baserunner, providing a solid floor for his overall value. Remember, this guy hasn't produced less than 2.0 fWAR in any full season since 2017.

If Semien starts playing better, so too should the Mets. Two months is a long time, especially in the context of a single MLB season. June 24 doesn't have to be a nightmare in Queens, even if it's trending that way right now.

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