Sending any promising rookie back down to the minor leagues after just calling him up is always challenging. The excellent prospect shows his potential in the minors, works his way up, and finally gets the call. Once they get to the majors, you want to see them succeed immediately. If they grow, they stay up, and your team has a bright future. If not, then your immediate reaction is bust. Sometimes, they get sent down again. The New York Mets are trying to figure out what they have with Brett Baty.
Time For The Mets To Call Brett Baty Back Up
Baty’s Struggles
When the Mets called Baty up in April due to the struggles of Eduardo Escobar, expectations were high on the young third baseman. A player who had shown good contact and power, he looked to establish himself as part of the young core of Mets—or “Baby Mets” as they liked to call themselves. The Mets struggled to find a third baseman after David Wright’s retirement in 2018. The team was counting on Baty to make an impact. In the same way, Francisco Álvarez has made on the Mets at catcher. Unfortunately, Baty wouldn’t have the same as his rookie counterpart.
While he was up in the big leagues this season, Baty slashed .216/.289/.331 hitting seven home runs and 27 RBI. His WAR was in the negatives at -06. His defense was also a giant problem. The Mets weren’t getting much out of Baty, and they feared his confidence was shot. As a result, they sent him back down to the minor leagues on August 7th, right after the team had an 0-6 road trip.
The Mets are sending Brett Baty down to Triple-A Syracuse pic.twitter.com/hBKstmJQkb
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 7, 2023
“Just a little time out. Take a breath. Just let him work on some things without the day-to-day”
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 7, 2023
Buck Showalter talks about the decision to option Brett Baty to Triple-A pic.twitter.com/rT3qtCgK8o
Baty’s Performance In Triple-A And Why It’s Time For His Return
The Mets made the conscious decision to send him down. It was risky and probably not ideal for a team that should be evaluating what they have for 2024. They’re just hoping Baty can get his swing and confidence back. In the week since Baty got sent down, he’s been raking the ball once again in Triple-A. Displaying why he is one of the Mets’ top prospects. In his first game back playing for Triple-A Syracuse, Baty homered to the opposite field.
Brett Baty hits a two-run shot in his first game back for Triple-A Syracuse pic.twitter.com/ctChu6R6N5
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 10, 2023
One game later, Baty homered again on the first pitch he saw.
Since being sent down to Triple-A Syracuse, Brett Baty has homered in back-to-back games. pic.twitter.com/QS3bTfKmm8
— SheaHello (@shea_Hello) August 12, 2023
On Tuesday night in Syracuse, Baty had a big night by driving in five runs, including a grand slam.
Brett Baty grand slam!
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 15, 2023
(via @SyracuseMets) pic.twitter.com/MRihqUxZ0F
Brett Baty has driven in 5 runs for Syracuse tonight pic.twitter.com/mvIbj1V6xB
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 16, 2023
In five games since being optioned, Baty is hitting .364 with three home runs and ten RBI on six hits. Safe to say Baty has found his swing again, which means it’s time for New York to promote him again. It may be pretty soon, but Baty’s only way to regain his confidence is to perform at the significant league level like he is in the minors. Plus, with the lineup the Mets are fielding right now, there’s no reason not to have Baty back up with two months left in the season—a lost season.
New York needs to figure out something for 2024. The only way for the Mets, and Baty himself, to know is for him to hit against major league pitching. Hopefully, he’ll be back up soon, especially with how he is striking, but even after just one week, he’s already showing positive signs. Positive enough for him to get the call to Queens again.
Main Photo Credits: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
