NY Mets prospect has a goal to avoid becoming the next Mark Vientos

Coming off of a big year in the minors where he spent an equal 61 games in High-A and Double-A, Jacob Reimer is a New York Mets prospect whose true role and impact in the majors remains TBD. He has played mostly third base while dabbling over at first base.

The former hasn’t gone incredibly well. Although fielding percentage doesn’t cover everything, his .898 fielding percentage at third base in the pros is well below acceptable. Reimer did improve at the hot corner last year, an overall .923 fielding percentage at third base.

Reimer understands the assignment. On a David Stearns-led team, defense is important. His mission is to become an elite defensive player.

Jacob Reimer’s goal is to avoid becoming the next Mark Vientos

Strong defense at third base wasn’t a priority for the Mets this offseason. They pulled a “chance” card instead with Bo Bichette. They’re crossing their fingers that a bad shortstop can at least be acceptable moving one spot over on the diamond. If nothing else, his offense should make up for any growing pains. He can’t be any worse than Mark Vientos, right?

If there was a doghouse for Mets players, there’d be two guys sitting in it at the moment. Sean Manaea coming off of a bad year plus his shrinking velocity in the spring along with Vientos and his similar poor 2025 campaign and slow start to spring training and the WBC have put both players on notice. Vientos is currently without any clear position, profiling best as a DH on a team paying Jorge Polanco $20 million per year to have that role.

Reimer isn’t all that different from Vientos. A rising hitter in the system, his 17 home runs last year accounted for a large percentage of how many he has hit since the Mets drafted him. He missed most of the 2024 campaign due to injury after a promising yet not spectacular 2023 season which marked his first full year. At least another full season away from significant major league action, where he fits into the team’s plans is dependent on a lot of things. First and foremost it’s how he plays third base.

The big third base question for the Mets begins with whether or not Bichette returns after 2026. It’s no foregone conclusion he’s out of here. What’s more, with Brett Baty lingering around and Ronny Mauricio not yet eliminated from future consideration, Reimer has several players he needs to pass before becoming a third base solution.

Of course, Reimer could always undergo the same makeover as those players. Nothing has locked him in at third base. In fact, he probably matches better over at first base.

One of the club’s better power hitters in the minors right now with Ryan Clifford still a few protein shakes ahead of him, Reimer’s bat is what should carry him furthest. He did dabble with a few games in left field in the 2024 Arizona Fall League. At the moment, he’s Vientos with strong minor league numbers and some questions as to where he’ll eventually play once he gets to the majors.

Vientos didn’t have the luxury of seeing any sort of front office vision for the position or younger players try and fail as an example of what not to do. Until him and Baty, short-term veterans occupied third base. Reimer has a long way to go before becoming a reliable defensive third baseman.

Four years ago in 2022, MLB Pipeline graded Vientos’ defense at a 45. They’ve given Reimer the same grade in 2026.

Reimer isn’t in denial about his defensive shortcomings. Becoming elite is a bit of a stretch. We’ll take competent.