{"id":41105,"date":"2025-03-14T06:39:53","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T06:39:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=41105"},"modified":"2025-03-14T06:39:53","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T06:39:53","slug":"warning-luisangel-acunas-path-to-mets-opening-day-roster-couldnt-be-clearer-with-latest-injury-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=41105","title":{"rendered":"WARNING: Luisangel Acu\u00f1a’s path to Mets Opening Day roster couldn’t be clearer with latest injury update"},"content":{"rendered":"
With Jeff McNeil out of action for 3-4 weeks, the New York Mets could platoon Brett Baty and Luisangel Acu\u00f1a at second base.<\/div>\n
\n
\"New<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil suffered a right oblique injury, which will keep him out of action for around 3-to-4 weeks. David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza will now have to pivot, as they expected McNeil to be the Opening Day second baseman.<\/p>\n

The Mets have a few options as to how to replace the veteran presence in their lineup and infield, but one is clearer than ever.<\/p>\n

Luisangel Acu\u00f1a should cut the Opening Day roster and potentially platoon at second with Brett Baty<\/h2>\n

Brett Baty has been raking in spring training, with a .370 batting average and 1.100 OPS. The 25-year-old would\u2019ve had a roster spot even if McNeil was healthy. The Mets planned to have Baty be the team’s utility player and a pinch hitter off the bench.<\/p>\n

Baty struggled in his first three seasons, but he\u2019s still young enough to change the narrative around him. It is a golden opportunity to do so. However, Carlos Mendoza can\u2019t ignore his subpar numbers with the Mets. Allowing the Baty and Luisangel Acu\u00f1a to platoon at second base would be in the team’s best interest.<\/p>\n

In 14 games filling in for Francisco Lindor late last season, Acu\u00f1a recorded a .308 batting average with a staggering .966 OPS. He earned a spot on the 2024 postseason roster with his terrific performance. We shouldn\u2019t expect him to replicate those numbers across a longer stretch, but the 22-year-old has a high ceiling. After the postseason, he played 30 games in the Venezuelan Winter League and posted a .337 batting average with a .914 OPS.<\/p>\n

Baty or Acu\u00f1a will be needed off the bench, no matter which one starts at second. With Francisco Alvarez\u2019s injury, Luis Torrens will be the starting catcher. In late-game situations, they could opt to use Acu\u00f1a or Baty as a pinch hitter. The Mets could also use Acu\u00f1a as a pinch runner, considering he\u2019s got lights-out speed.<\/p>\n

Of course, losing McNeil to start 2025 is a blow. After the 2024 All-Star break, the former batting champion had one of the best stretches of his career. McNeil hit .289 with a .923 OPS across a 41-game span. Nevertheless, having not only Baty but also Acu\u00f1a will serve as a great band-aid for the Mets.<\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jeff McNeil suffered a right oblique injury, which will keep him out of action for at least 3-4 weeks. David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza will now have to pivot,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":41106,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nWARNING: Luisangel Acu\u00f1a's path to Mets Opening Day roster couldn't be clearer with latest injury update - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=41105\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"WARNING: Luisangel Acu\u00f1a's path to Mets Opening Day roster couldn't be clearer with latest injury update - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Jeff McNeil suffered a right oblique injury, which will keep him out of action for at least 3-4 weeks. 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