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Mets' Brett Baty to miss time due to finger fracture
New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty. Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets announced that infield prospect Brett Baty suffered a fracture in his left index finger last Thursday while playing for Triple-A Syracuse. Baty was hit by a pitch during a check swing, and the team estimated a recovery timeline of 4-6 weeks. This means that Baty’s 2024 season could well be over, barring some quicker-than-expected healing or a return at the very end of September.

The injury adds to what has been an overall disappointing season for the third baseman, as Baty hit only .229/.306/.327 over 171 plate appearances in the major leagues. This brings Baty’s career totals to 15 home runs and a .215/.282/.325 slash line in 602 PA and 169 games — about the equivalent of one full season since he made his MLB debut in 2022.  It isn’t a huge sample size, and the 24-year-old Baty would hardly be the first star prospect to have some initial struggles before going on to have a successful big league career.

However, more has been expected from the former 12th overall pick, and Baty’s place as the Mets third baseman of the future has now seemingly been filled by Mark Vientos, who has hit tremendously well in his first extended taste of MLB playing time.  

Pete Alonso’s possible departure in free agency this winter could conceivably leave first base open so Vientos and Baty could both be part of the 2025 lineup, yet while Vientos seems to be cementing his spot in New York’s plans, the jury is still out on Baty. He drew plenty of attention before the trade deadline, but there isn’t yet any indication that the Mets are open to moving on from Baty.

While Baty didn’t have much left to prove against minor league pitching, his .262/.358/.528 slash line over 254 Triple-A plate appearances indicated that he was in a groove at the plate, and could’ve potentially carried this good form into a September call-up with the Mets.  

It would’ve been interesting to see how Baty’s development would’ve been weighed against the Mets’ efforts to land a wild-card spot, yet it now may be a moot point given the finger injury.

This article first appeared on MLB Trade Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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