3 players who deserve an Opening Day roster spot more than Darin Ruf

2) NY Mets prospect Brett Baty is more deserving of a roster spot than Darin Ruf

Brett Baty is the other prospect who should be ahead of Ruf on the depth chart. He can play the same positions as Vientos. His third base skills are better which makes him a more conceivable long-term option at the position.

Between Baty and Vientos, I can see the case to carry Vientos over Baty on the Opening Day roster. Give the left-handed hitting Baty a few more Triple-A at-bats (he didn’t get many last year) and allow him to grow as a defender. Baty is someone the Mets can safely turn to later on this season whether it’s to replace Ruf or give them consistent starts at third base or in left field. He could even be an alternative choice to start at the DH spot if Daniel Vogelbach doesn’t carry his weight.

Baty wasn’t particularly fantastic in his 42 trips to the plate for the Mets last year. He hit .184/.244/.342 with a pair of home runs. Rush to the major leagues out of necessity because the team lost Eduardo Escobar to the IL, he’d be less of a direct Ruf replacement than Vientos and more of a platoon partner. Starting him regularly at third base and in left field could work out well. The cautious Mets would probably not prefer to do this. It doesn’t change the fact that he’s a better fit and more deserving of a roster spot than Ruf.