NL Silver Slugger finalists further prove disappointing NY Mets player missed out

If he was anything like he was in 2024, Mark Vientos might be a favorite to win the NL Silver Slugger in 2025.
Sep 28, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Mark Vientos (27) hits a single against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Sep 28, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Mark Vientos (27) hits a single against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Three New York Mets players were named NL Silver Slugger finalists. Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso each have a shot at adding some hardware to their shelves and resumes.

Very absent from the conversation was Mark Vientos. A hugely disappointing season for Vientos had him doing anything but competing for a major award like this. The National League actually had four finalists for the award at third base. Their 2025 numbers are no better than what Vientos did for the Mets in 2024. Unable to retroactively use his season totals from a year prior for this year’s consideration, it’s another reminder of a missed opportunity for Vientos to establish himself as one of the league’s best hitters.

How Mark Vientos in 2024 compares to this year’s NL Silver Slugger finalists at third base

Vientos slashed .266/.322/.516 with 27 home runs and 71 RBI in 2024. It came in only 413 at-bats. Vientos spent a good part of the early half of 2024 in the minor leagues, denied his chance until about two months in for any sort of regular playing time.

This year’s finalists include Matt Chapman, Manny Machado, Max Muncy, and Austin Riley. Machado led the way with 27 home runs, Eugenio Suarez topping him with 36 prior to changing leagues. Machado drove in 95 runs as well while posting a .795 OPS, quite a bit lower than the .837 Vientos had in 2024.

Chapman had 21 home runs and 61 RBI. Muncy had 19 home runs and 67 RBI. Riley snuck in there with 16 home runs and 54 RBI. Only Machado had a better batting average than Vientos did in 2024. In a full season where he hit the way he did in 2024, Vientos would have been right there alongside the San Diego Padres slugger.

Just 17 home runs and 61 RBI this season had Vientos tailing some of these Silver Slugger finalists. It was his .233 batting average and .289 OBP that has him rightfully overlooked as a serious contender. What’s more, with 69 starts at third base, could he realistically even qualify in the same category at this position?

We’ve had a few reminders this October of how great Vientos was in 2024. Take the NLCS as an example. The Milwaukee Brewers scored 4 runs in their 4 games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Vientos had 7 RBI in 28 plate appearances. He was a one-man wrecking crew in the clutch for a good part of 2024. The 2025 version let us down. Looking at his third base peers in the NL Silver Slugger finalist list, there was a real chance he could have been the winner in the end.

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