Why Mets' David Stearns isn't surprised by Brett Baty's springtime surge

Infield prospect Brett Baty was one of the bright spots of the New York Mets' latest homestand that included the club earning four wins in five games before he went 0-2 as a pinch-hitter in Wednesday's 4-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Before Wednesday's defeat, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns explained how Baty's Triple-A performances left the organization believing the 25-year-old could find his best form at the plate with the big-league club this spring. 

"He’s clearly seeing the ball well," Stearns said about Baty, as shared by Denis P. Gorman of Newsday. "He’s gotten some pitches he can handle and he hasn’t missed them. [There’s] probably a variety of reasons for that. Some of it is confidence. Some of it [is that] he’s a really talented baseball player. Some of it is preparation. And it kind of all combines and we’ve had a pretty special week for him."

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza revealed earlier in the week that Baty has been using a high-velo machine in the batting cage and taking "random" batting practice where he doesn't know what pitch is coming ahead of time. Before Baty failed to reach base in a pair of Wednesday plate appearances, he hit .462 with a 1.846 OPS, four home runs and seven RBI over his previous five games and 13 at-bats. 

Additionally, Mark W. Sanchez of the New York Post noted that roughly 52 percent of Baty's batted balls resulted in ground balls across his first 12 games of this season. That number fell to 38 percent over the following 14 contests. 

"We learn all the time that it just takes different pacing for different players to establish themselves or break out, or whatever you want to call it, at the major-league level," Stearns added about Baty. "When [a] player has that level of talent, they’re generally going to figure it out at some point and have success at the major-league level. And I think we’re seeing that with Brett right now."

With outfielder/designated hitter Jesse Winker likely out of action until at least late June because of a right oblique strain, Baty should continue to receive opportunities to show he's more than a so-called "Quadruple-A" player. He may spend the bulk of Winker's stint on the injured list auditioning for other clubs with Mark Vientos now serving as the Mets' full-time third baseman, but Baty could ultimately give his current employer needed depth as New York attempts to remain atop the National League East standings through the summer.