Why slugging NY Mets 3B will be a first-time All-Star this season

The New York Mets haven't had a consistent third baseman in 10 years. Ever since David Wright's career was cut short due to injury, the Mets have shuffled through different short-term options at the position. After years of seeing the likes of Wilmer Flores, Todd Frazier, J.D. Davis, and Eduardo Escobar, it looks like the Mets may have finally found a long-term option at third base: 25-year-old Mark Vientos, whose breakout last season helped lead the Mets to an NLCS appearance from being 11 games under .500 in June.

This season, Vientos has an opportunity to make his first All-Star appearance and would be the Mets' first third baseman to do so since David Wright.

Vientos struggled in the limited opportunities presented to him in the 2022 and 2023, slashing just .205/.255/.354 in 274 plate appearances. In 2024 he broke out big time, slashing .266/.322/.516 in 454 plate appearances with 27 home runs and 71 RBI. His success carried over to the playoffs, where in 58 plate appearances he slashed .327/.362/.636, hitting five home runs and batting in 14 runs in just the 13 games played.

In 2025, Vientos has the opportunity to make his first All-Star appearance, a feat not accomplished by a Mets third baseman since David Wright's 2013 campaign. His competition will likely feature Braves' Austin Riley, Padres' Manny Machado, and Giants' Matt Chapman.

Riley, an All-Star in '22 and '23, had a bit of a down year last season cut short due to a fractured right hand that sidelined him for the final six weeks. His numbers were still solid, slashing .256/.322/.461 in 469 plate appearances, but his 2.4 fWAR is quite the drop from the three previous years, in each of which he accumulated over five. Machado is still one of baseball's excellent third basemen, but a rough start to last season kept him from an All-Star nod. Chapman had his best season last year since his 2019 All-Star campaign but also failed to earn a nod. No matter how good the competition is, it remains wide open for a guy like Vientos to sneak into the conversation.

Of course, whether or not Vientos can earn an All-Star bid against the NL third base competition is more reliant on his performance this season than anything else. There's no guarantee that he can keep up his excellence from last year, but his development through the minor leagues and his Savant metrics are promising signs. If he can improve his whiff and walk rate, Vientos can be an even better hitter than he was last year.

Another factor will be Mets fans' votes. As it's been for years, the All-Star roster is composed entirely due to fan voting. If Vientos is playing well enough, it will be crucial for Mets fans to get out there and vote for their third baseman. As the Mets play for a World Series title this year, Vientos' chance for a first All-Star bid will be a fun storyline to follow.