Mark Vientos

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Mark Vientos

| image = Mark Vientos, September 4, 2024 - 001 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Vientos with the Mets in 2024

| team = New York Mets

| number = 27

| position = Third baseman

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|12|11}}

| birth_place = Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 11

| debutyear = 2022

| debutteam = New York Mets

| statleague = MLB

| statyear = May 30, 2025

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .240

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 43

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 117

| teams = * New York Mets ({{mlby|2022}}–present)

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's baseball}}

{{MedalCountry | {{bb|USA}}}}

}}

Mark Anthony Vientos (born December 11, 1999), nicknamed "Swaggy V", is an American professional baseball third baseman for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the Mets in the second round of the 2017 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut in 2022.

Early life and amateur career

Vientos was born in Norwalk, Connecticut.{{Cite web |title=Mark Vientos Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/mark-vientos-668901 |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} His mother Katy Wilmor was born in Nicaragua, while his father Carlos Manuel "Charles" Vientos was born in the Dominican Republic but was raised in New York. Mark's father became a fan of the New York Mets, whose rooting interest and being taught how to play the game, had passed onto him as well.{{cite news |last1=Eddy |first1=Matt |title=2017 MLB Draft Grades: New York Mets |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2017-mlb-draft-grades-new-york-mets/ |access-date=September 8, 2022 |work=Baseball America |date=October 16, 2017}}

Vientos has cited Alex Rodriguez and Manny Machado as early role models because of their "swagger", their origins in Miami, and their career trajectories in which both players transitioned from playing shortstop to third base. Vientos also grew up a fan of former Mets captain David Wright, another third baseman. He wore Wright's number 5 in his youth.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/new-york-post/20240714/282961045358162|title=Serby's Sunday Q&A With … Mark Viento's|editor=Serby, Steve|date=July 14, 2024|publisher=New York Post|accessdate=October 22, 2024}}

Vientos spent his first three years of high school at Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida.{{cite web|last=Crawford |first=Christopher |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2016/06/13/2017-mlb-draft-tanner-houck-jaren-kendall |title=Way-too-early look at top players available for 2017 MLB draft - Sports Illustrated |publisher=Si.com |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=May 2, 2021}} In 2016 as a junior, he hit .321.{{cite web|author=Kevin Askeland |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/news/vdOo054CT0yxlLDcahHa-A/top-10-high-school-major-league-baseball-draft-prospects-for-2017.htm |title=Top 10 high school Major League Baseball Draft prospects for 2017 |publisher=MaxPreps |date=January 18, 2017 |access-date=May 2, 2021}} That summer, he played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park.{{Cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Andre C. |date=July 21, 2016 |title=Locals invited to Perfect Game All-American Classic |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/high-school/article91173107.html |website=Miami Herald}} He transferred to American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida for his senior year in 2017.{{cite web|last=Zielinski |first=Dan |url=http://www.the3rdmanin.com/mark-vientos-state-championship/ |title=Mark Vientos determined to win state championship |publisher=The 3rd Man In |date=August 20, 2014 |access-date=May 2, 2021}} As a senior, he hit .417 over 26 games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/fl-sp-hs-perez-vientos-mlb-draft-20170612-story.html|title=McCarthy's Joe Perez, Heritage's Mark Vientos selected in 2nd round of MLB draft|first=Wells|last=Dusenbury|website=baltimoresun.com|date=June 12, 2017 }} After the season, he was selected by the Mets in the second round (59th overall) of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-draft-third-baseman-mark-vientos-at-59-c235982154 |title=Mets draft third baseman Mark Vientos at 59 |work=Mlb.com |date= |access-date=May 2, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/mets/2017/06/mlb_draft_2017_who_is_mark_vientos_5_things_to_kno.html|title=5 things to know about Mets' 2nd-round pick|first=Joe Giglio | NJ Advance Media for|last=NJ.com|date=June 13, 2017|website=nj}} Vientos signed with the Mets for $1.5 million, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at the University of Miami.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/brewers/news/mets-sign-draft-pick-mark-vientos-c237614234 |title=Mets sign Draft pick Mark Vientos |work=Mlb.com |date=June 20, 2017 |access-date=May 2, 2021}}

Professional career

After signing with the Mets, Vientos made his professional debut with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Mets before being promoted to the Kingsport Mets of the rookie-level Appalachian League. Over 51 games between the two clubs, he batted .262 with four home runs and 26 RBIs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesnews.net/sports/gifted-defenders-gifted-hitters-a-lot-of-pitching-depth-have-k-mets-ratliff-eager-for/article_ec811b6c-4bb1-5fe5-b6e3-ccf512f7c226.html|title='Gifted defenders, gifted hitters, a lot of pitching depth' have K-Mets' Ratliff eager for season|first=KEVIN|last=MAYS|website=timesnews.net|date=June 16, 2018 }} He returned to Kingsport in 2018, slashing .287/.389/.489 with 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 60 games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mark-vientos-answers-questions-and-then-some/|title=Mark Vientos Answers Questions And Then Some|first=Mike|last=Puma|website=www.baseballamerica.com|date=November 10, 2018 }} In 2019, he played with the Columbia Fireflies of the Single–A South Atlantic League, hitting .255/.300/.411 with 12 home runs, 62 RBI, and 27 doubles over 111 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/mets/2020/06/04/ny-mets-mark-vientos-comes-teams-no-7-prospect/5282959002/ |title=NY Mets: Mark Vientos comes in as team's No. 7 prospect |publisher=Northjersey.com |date=May 24, 2020 |access-date=May 2, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://sny.tv/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mets-hitting-prospect-of-the-year-mark-vientos |title=Everything you need to know about Mets' Hitting Prospect of the Year Mark Vientos |last=Cerrone |first=Matthew |date=September 20, 2019 |website=SNY.tv |publisher= |access-date=September 29, 2022 |quote=}} After the season, he was named the Mets Minor League Hitter of the Year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mark-vientos-mets-2019-minor-league-player-of-the-year/|title=Mark Vientos Named New York Mets 2019 Minor League Player Of The Year|first=Mike|last=Puma|website=www.baseballamerica.com|date=August 26, 2019 }}

Vientos did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/06/30/minor-league-baseball-season-canceled-2020-coronavirus | title=2020 Minor League Baseball Season Canceled | date=June 30, 2020 }} To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies of the Double-A Northeast.{{cite web |url=https://wbng.com/2021/05/03/rumble-ponies-prepare-for-the-start-of-the-season/ |title=Rumble Ponies prepare for the start of the season |website=wbng.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504175327/https://wbng.com/2021/05/03/rumble-ponies-prepare-for-the-start-of-the-season/ |archive-date=May 4, 2021}} After slashing .281/.346/.580 with 22 home runs and 59 RBIs over 72 games, he was promoted to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets in early September.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/mets-promote-prospect-mark-vientos-153948834.html|title=Mets promote prospect Mark Vientos to Triple-A Syracuse|accessdate=June 13, 2023}} In 11 games with Syracuse, Vientos batted .278 with three home runs.{{Cite web |last=Dykstra |first=Sam |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Meet the Mets' 2021 Organization All-Stars |url=https://www.milb.com/news/2021-new-york-mets-organization-all-stars |website=MiLB.com}}

On November 19, 2021, the Mets selected Vientos' contract and added him to the 40-man roster.{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ronny-mauricio-mark-vientos-among-012826632.html|title = Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos among four added to Mets' 40-man roster ahead of Rule 5 deadline}} He returned to Syracuse to begin the 2022 season.{{cite tweet|number=1511427396473344007|user=SyracuseMets|title=Our Opening Day roster is set! Meet your 2022 Syracuse Mets #letsgo|date=April 5, 2022}} In early June, he was placed on the injured list with knee discomfort, but returned just a little over a week later.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-mark-vientos-managing-knee-discomfort/ | title=Mets' Mark Vientos: Managing knee discomfort | date=June 4, 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.amazinavenue.com/2022/6/13/23165278/mets-daily-prospect-report-6-13-22-prospect-power-syracuse-binghamton-brooklyn-st-lucie | title=Mets Daily Prospect Report, 6/13/22: P-p-p-p-prospect P-p-p-p-power | date=June 13, 2022 }} He was selected to represent the Mets at the 2022 All-Star Futures Game alongside Francisco Álvarez.{{cite web |url=https://sny.tv/articles/mark-vientos-joins-francisco-alvarez-futures-game |title=Mark Vientos joins Francisco Alvarez on 2022 MLB Futures Game roster |last=Abriano |first=Danny |date=July 12, 2022 |website=SNY.tv |publisher= |access-date=September 29, 2022 |quote=}} In 101 games with Syracuse, he slashed .280/.358/.519 with 24 home runs and 72 RBI.{{cite web |url=https://www.sny.tv/articles/mets-prospect-roundup-mark-vientos-massive-home-run |title=Mets Prospect Roundup: Mark Vientos goes deep for 24th time in Triple-A |last=Sanchez |first=Robert |date=September 10, 2022 |website=SNY.tv |publisher= |access-date=September 29, 2022 |quote=}}

== 2022 ==

File:Mark Vientos, Oct 07 2022.jpg

On September 10, 2022, the Mets promoted Vientos to the major leagues.{{cite news |last=Hansmann |first=Adam |date=September 11, 2022 |title=Mets assign Starling Marte to IL; call up Mark Vientos |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3582308/2022/09/10/mets-starling-marte-il-mark-vientos-call-up/ |work=The New York Times}} He made his MLB debut the next night at Marlins Park versus the Miami Marlins as the team's designated hitter, going hitless over five at-bats with two strikeouts as the Mets won 9–3.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-mark-vientos-hitting-eighth-in-debut/ | title=Mets' Mark Vientos: Hitting eighth in debut | date=September 11, 2022 }} On September 15, Vientos recorded his first major league hit, a single off Eric Stout of the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN202209150.shtml|title=Pittsburgh Pirates vs New York Mets Box Score: September 15, 2022|work=Baseball Reference}} On September 24, he hit his first major league home run, off Oakland Athletics starter Ken Waldichuk.{{Cite web|title=Mark Vientos Heating Up, Cracks First Career Home Run|url=https://metsmerizedonline.com/mark-vientos-heating-up-cracks-first-career-home-run/|access-date=June 21, 2023|website=metsmerizedonline.com|date=September 25, 2022 |language=en}}

== 2023 ==

Vientos was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to begin the 2023 season.{{Cite web|title=Mets' Mark Vientos: Optioned to Syracuse|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-mark-vientos-optioned-to-syracuse/|access-date=March 25, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Through May 16, 2023, Vientos had 13 home runs and an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 1.104. On May 17, the Mets promoted Vientos to the major leagues in an effort to spark their struggling offense. He started at third base that night against the Tampa Bay Rays and hit a game-tying home run in the 7th inning.{{cite news |last1=Hoffman |first1=Benjamin |title=The Mets Get a Shot of Offense by Calling Up a Top Prospect |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/sports/baseball/mark-vientos-mets.html |access-date=May 18, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=May 17, 2023}} On September 20, Vientos hit two home runs in an 8–3 victory over the Miami Marlins, the first multi-homer game of his career.{{Cite web |title=Vientos flashes team-best exit velo with twin homers |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mark-vientos-hits-two-home-runs-in-win-over-marlins |access-date=February 23, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Across 65 games for New York in 2023, Vientos batted .211/.253/.367 with 9 home runs and 22 RBI.

== 2024 ==

Vientos was again optioned to Triple–A Syracuse to begin the 2024 season,{{cite web | title=Mets' Mark Vientos: Fails to make Opening Day roster | website=CBSSports.com | date=March 24, 2024 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-mark-vientos-fails-to-make-opening-day-roster/amp/ | access-date=February 16, 2025}} but was later called up on April 27 for the remainder of a series against the St. Louis Cardinals after Starling Marte was transferred to the bereavement list.{{Cite web |last=McShane |first=Chris |date=April 27, 2024 |title=Mets place Marte on bereavement list, Smith on IL, call up Vientos and Núñez |url=https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/4/27/24142750/mets-marte-smith-vientos-nunez-il-injury-bereavement-list-new-york |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=Amazin' Avenue |language=en}} In that series, he would go 3-for-4 with two RBIs and his first career walk-off home run in the 11th inning to avoid a sweep as the Mets defeated the Cardinals 4–2.{{Cite web |last=Puma |first=Mike |date=April 28, 2024 |title=Mark Vientos walks off Mets with homer in 11th for win over Cardinals |url=https://nypost.com/2024/04/28/sports/mark-vientos-walks-off-mets-with-homer-in-11th-for-win-over-cardinals/ |access-date=October 15, 2024 |language=en-US}} On April 30, after Marte was activated from the bereavement list, Vientos was demoted back to Triple–A Syracuse.{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2024 |title=Mets' Mark Vientos: Heads back to minors |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-mark-vientos-heads-back-to-minors/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} However, on May 15, he was promoted back to the major leagues after Joey Wendle was designated for assignment.{{cite web | last=DiComo | first=Anthony | title=Mets call up Mark Vientos | website=MLB.com | date=May 15, 2024 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mark-vientos-mets-callup | access-date=February 16, 2025}}

On September 6 in a game against the Cincinnati Reds, Vientos hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving the Mets a 6–4 victory and their 8th straight win, keeping their playoff hopes alive.{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2024 |title=Vientos walk-off HR pushes Mets' win streak to 8 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41156911/mark-vientos-hits-walk-home-run-run-mets-win-streak-8 |access-date=February 23, 2025 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} In 2024, Vientos played in 111 games for the Mets, batting .266/.322/.516 with a career-high 27 home runs and 71 RBI.{{Cite web |title=Mark Vientos Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/mark-vientos-668901?season=2024&team=121 |access-date=October 4, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

In his postseason debut, Vientos hit a go-ahead 2-RBI single in Game 1 of the 2024 National League Wild Card Series.{{Cite web |title='Hungry' Mark Vientos, savvy J.D. Martinez 'pass baton' in Mets' Game 1 win |url=https://sny.tv/articles/mark-vientos-jd-martinez-mets-game-1-win-brewers |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=sny.tv}} In Game 2 of the 2024 NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, he hit a go-ahead two-run home run to give the Mets a 2–0 lead, and later hit another two-run home run to tie the game 6–6, which marked his first two career postseason home runs.{{cite tweet|author=MLB |user=MLB |title=Oppo pop for Mark Vientos' first career #postseason home run! #NLDS |number=1843030104420876724 |date=October 6, 2024 |access-date=October 6, 2024}}

In Game 2 of the 2024 NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Vientos hit a grand slam in the 2nd inning to give the Mets a 6–0 lead, and eventually giving the Mets a 7–3 win. It was also the third postseason grand slam in Mets history.{{Cite web |title=Mets' Mark Vientos hits a GRAND SLAM against the Dodgers {{!}} MLB on FOX |url=https://www.foxsports.com/watch/fmc-3rav6nnjuzmp9jkp |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=FOX Sports |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Sportsdesk |first=B. V. M. |date=October 14, 2024 |title=Mark Vientos Blasts a NLCS Grand Slam |url=https://bvmsports.com/2024/10/14/mark-vientos-blasts-a-nlcs-grand-slam/ |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=BVM Sports |language=en-US}} During the postseason, Vientos slashed .327/.362/.636 with 5 home runs and 14 RBIs{{cite web | last=Stepien | first=Garrett | title=Mets see Mark Vientos develop into 'big-time player' despite 'bittersweet' end to season in NLCS at Dodgers | website=Yahoo! Sports | date=October 21, 2024 | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mets-see-mark-vientos-develop-051316358.html | access-date=February 16, 2025}} with the 14 RBIs setting a Mets franchise record for postseason RBI in a single season.{{cite web | last=Villas | first=Rexwell | title=Mark Vientos sets Mets franchise record amid tense Game 6 vs. Dodgers | website=ClutchPoints | date=October 21, 2024 | url=https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-mark-vientos-mets-franchise-record-tense-game-6-dodgers | access-date=February 16, 2025}}

== 2025 ==

On June 3, 2025, Vientos was placed on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain after tweaking it from running out of the batter's box one day prior during a game at Dodger Stadium.{{Cite web |last=Puma |first=Mike |date=2025-06-03 |title=Mark Vientos' status up in the air after exiting with injury |url=https://nypost.com/2025/06/03/sports/mark-vientos-status-up-in-the-air-after-exiting-with-injury/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |language=en-US}}

International eligibility

Vientos has appeared at the youth level for the United States and captured a silver medal at the 2014 15U Baseball World Cup. Vientos would also be eligible to represent either the Dominican Republic or Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic, due to the places of birth of his parents but he would also be able to instead represent Puerto Rico and even as a native in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente. While Vientos' paternal grandmother was born in the Dominican Republic, his paternal grandfather (her spouse) was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico in 1945, which would effectively give him four eligible countries to choose from and represent in the Classic.{{cite web|url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/deportes/beisbol/notas/la-historia-de-mark-vientos-el-jugador-revelacion-de-los-mets-y-quien-tiene-ascendencia-dominicana-y-puertorriquena/|title=La historia de Mark Vientos, el jugador revelación de los Mets y quien tiene ascendencia dominicana y puertorriqueña|editor=Maldonado Ríos, Antolín|date=October 9, 2024|publisher=El Nuevo Día|accessdate=October 22, 2024}}

Prior to the 2023 World Baseball Classic, it was initially reported that Vientos would play for Nicaragua but he ultimately did not appear on the team's roster opting to instead participate in practices with his Mets teammates throughout the spring.{{cite news |last1=Gabbianelli |first1=Anthony |title=Morning Briefing: World Baseball Classic Rosters To Be Revealed Thursday |url=https://metsmerizedonline.com/morning-briefing-world-baseball-classic-rosters-to-be-revealed-thursday/ |access-date=May 18, 2023 |work=Metsmerized Online |date=February 8, 2023}}