Let’s go back to last winter. The New York Mets had yet to sign Pete Alonso and the thought process was they’d be able to easily turn to Mark Vientos as their next first baseman. He slugged his way into our hearts in 2024. Clearly not a major league third baseman, a move across the diamond to the overall less challenging position of first base seemed like a way to get the most from him.
Vientos failed to repeat his 2024 offensive performance. And in one moment in early August, he crossed himself off the list of potential Alonso replacements at first base.