Luisangel Acuna isn’t the only NY Mets player red hot in Venezuela this winter

New York Mets fans are watching from afar as Luisangel Acuna puts together some fat statistics in the Venezuelan Winter League. A .337/.419/.495 slash line in his first 119 plate appearances, Acuna has added 3 home runs, driven in 17, and stolen 18 bases in 19 attempts.

The gaudy numbers are eye-popping even if players like a 37-year-old Alcides Escobar are hitting well, too. Nearly 50 players in the league batting over .300.

Acuna isn’t the only Mets player who lit a fire down there. Offseason free agent signing Edward Olivares has a .390/.469/.659 slash line in 98 plate appearances. Adding 10 doubles, 4 home runs, and 18 RBI, he’s fourth in the league in average.

Mets minor league free agent signing Edward Olivares looks ready to move up the depth chart

We’re not foolish enough to believe Acuna’s trade value has changed at all because he’s one of multiple players hitting well in a league that seems to benefit hitters far more than pitchers, right? Okay. Maybe you DO believe it. If so, you need to put some respect on Oliveras’ name, too.

Oliveras has put together decent MLB numbers in parts of 5 seasons. A .254/.306/.407 slash line lifetime gives a good translation into what he has done in Triple-A. While at the highest minor league level he’s a .302/.380/.505 hitter in 545 career plate appearances. He has actually spent more time in the majors than he has in Triple-A so prepare for irrational fans to call for Jose Siri to get released in May when he’s struggling to hit above the Mendoza Line and Oliveras is challenging for a batting title in the minors.

As satisfying as his offensive performance has been this winter in Venezuela, the way he has been used on defense adds some sprinkles on top. Although his MLB experience has had him playing mostly left field, Oliveras is playing center field almost exclusively. This remains a position of some doubt for the Mets in the immediate future. The plan to start the season should include some combination of Siri and Tyrone Taylor out there with a hope of Drew Gilbert entering the picture at some point.

Oliveras, as a man waiting to solve any outfield need and in particular as the center fielder for an extended period of time, isn’t such a bad choice to have. He won’t be hitting like Tony Gwynn in the majors. After some past troubles the Mets have run into at the position, recalling the 2021 season most, we can respect how aggressive the front office has been at piling up safety nets.