Carlos Mendoza had a conversation with Mark Vientos on Sunday.
The Mets‘ skipper just wanted to sit the 26-year-old slugger down amid his continued spring training struggles at the plate to remind him that he already has a place on this team.
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Mendoza didn’t necessarily get the sense that Vientos needed to hear that, but he felt it was important for him.
“It’s the human-element,” he said. “They are competitors going out there, they want to see results — I think the past couple of years he comes into camp trying to make the team, and we know he is part of this team moving forward.
“I thought it was just important for him, like we’re not looking for results here we’re just looking for quality at-bats and as long as you’re seeing the ball well and swinging it good, that’s all that matters right now.”
Vientos responded by going 0-for-4 again on Monday night.
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He is now hitless in three games since returning from a sluggish World Baseball Classic.
While the infielder did strikeout for the sixth time this spring during his second plate appearance, he did also hit into another tough luck out before that.
After youngster Carson Benge opened the bottom of the first with a seven-pitch walk, Vientos dug in and scorched an up and in slider from Nationals left-hander Zach Penrod for a 106.4 mph liner.
It was the eighth-hardest hit ball of the night, unfortunately it was directly at the left fielder, which has been the story of his spring to this point.
There’s no denying Vientos is struggling, but he has been hitting the ball hard, which gives Mendoza confidence he can find his way out of it.
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“We’re not putting too much into results right now,” the skipper emphasized. “The biggest thing for him is just continue to see the ball well, continue to make hard contact, and continue to work hard defensively.
“He’s going to be a big player for us. He’s going to be a big bat, and we’re counting on him. I’m pretty confident that we’re going to get a really good version of Mark Vientos.”
