NY Mets slugger has turned a corner, but one hole in his offensive game remains

After a breakout season in 2024 where he mashed 27 home runs and posted a formidable .838 OPS, New York Mets slugger Mark Vientos entered the 2025 campaign with high expectations. However, the first half of the season was a struggle, as he failed to replicate the power and productivity that made him a key fixture in the lineup. The dip in performance led to a great deal of speculation, with many wondering if the Mets might consider trading him at the deadline to a team like the Chicago White Sox in a potential deal for star outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

Fortunately, the Mets' front office, led by President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, held firm. They opted against selling low on a young power bat with immense potential, instead acquiring Cedric Mullins for center field and bolstering the bullpen. That decision is looking wise, as Vientos has started to turn a corner with his bat. His recent offensive surge has been a crucial development for a team in the thick of a playoff race, proving that patience can pay off. Yet, while his hitting has improved dramatically, a significant hole in his offensive profile remains.

The power is back but the eye is still missing

Vientos's turnaround in August has been remarkable. His recent performance has showcased the raw power that made him a breakout player a year ago. Through the first few weeks of the month, Vientos has a high slugging percentage and a batting average over .350, a stark improvement from his .238 average and .404 slugging percentage for the entire season. This is supported by Statcast data, which shows his average exit velocity and hard-hit rate have climbed considerably in August. His barrel rate, which measures the number of batted balls hit with the optimal combination of exit velocity and launch angle, is also up.

Despite the renewed power, a persistent issue is Vientos’s approach at the plate. While he's been mashing, his plate discipline has not followed suit. The slugger's walk rate (BB%) for the season is a low 5.8%, putting him in the bottom percentile of the league. While he's shown a better eye in August with a 2-for-28 walk-to-at-bat ratio, his overall plate discipline remains a concern. This lack of patience means he’s not getting on base enough to maximize the value of his hard contact.

Looking at advanced plate discipline metrics from FanGraphs, Vientos's swing rate on pitches outside the strike zone (O-Swing%) is higher than the league average, while his swing rate on pitches inside the zone (Z-Swing%) is average. This combination indicates a tendency to chase pitches he shouldn't and not attack pitches he should, hindering his ability to work counts and draw walks.

A low walk rate limits his on-base opportunities and makes him more susceptible to slumps, as pitchers can exploit his aggressive approach. For Vientos to truly become the superstar hitter the Mets believe he can be, he must not only hit the ball hard but also show the discipline to lay off bad pitches. Until he does, that one hole will continue to limit his full offensive potential.