Mets 2025 First Half Report Card: Infielders

Two of the five starters (we count catchers as infielders for this exercise) are headed to the All-Star Game, so give the infield an A grade overall, even if third base and catcher haven’t been carrying their weight in this group project.

Pete Alonso was the Player of the Month for March/April, keeping the offense afloat while Juan Soto was off to a slow start. His OPS was an absurd 1.140 on May 4.

It will be interesting to see who plays the most at third base in the second half and when (or if?) Francisco Alvarez makes his return.

Pete Alonso: A+

He led the offense early, leads the majors in doubles (26), and his batting average and on-base percentage would be career highs. Oh, and he’s six homers away from breaking the franchise home run record. (.280/.376/.532, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 3.1 WAR)

Jeff McNeil: B

He’s been inconsistent with the bat, but invaluably versatile in the field. He is grouped with the infielders because he’s made 31 starts at second base. But his grade also reflects 18 starts in center field. I was skeptical when I saw him there, flashbacks to failed experiments (Juan Samuel, Keith Miller, Howard Johnson) raced through my mind, but he has handled it with aplomb. (.253/.341/.465, nine HR, 31 RBI, 1.4 WAR)

Francisco Lindor: A-

A blazing start (.954 OPS in April), but he cooled off for a while after breaking his toe in Colorado in early June. His slash line numbers fall in line with where they finished in 2022, when he was ninth in MVP voting. At long last, he represented the Mets in the All-Star Game. (.260/.330/.457, 19 HR, 54 RBI, 15 SB, 3.0 WAR)

Ronny Mauricio: C

He’s been getting the bulk of the starts at third base in July. I think Mauricio’s .828 OPS this month, slick glove, and speed on the bases make it his job to lose. (.237/.311/.409, four HR, six RBI, 0.5 WAR)

Mark Vientos: D

A terribly disappointing first half after the way he performed last season, especially in the playoffs. Three two-hit games in his last five, including a clutch three-run double in a win over the Royals, jumped his grade up from an F. Maybe he can find his groove in the second half. (.223/.280/.361, six HR, 24 RBI, -0.6 WAR)

Brett Baty: C+

He’s flashed the potential that made him the 12th pick of the 2019 draft, but has been wildly up and down with the bat. His OPS was .914 in May (62 at-bats) then fell off a cliff in June to .571 (77 at-bats). Through it all, he has not let it affect his defense. He’s started 35 games at third base and 25 at second and is in the 85th percentile for range, per Baseball Savant. (.226/.282/.403, nine HR, 30 RBI, four SB, 1.3 WAR)

Luisangel Acuña: C-

He can run and play defense, but hasn’t shown the ability to hit like he did last September when he posted a .966 OPS in 39 at-bats. He is a useful player to have on the roster as a late-inning pinch-runner/defensive replacement. (.235/.285/.275, 0 HR, six RBI, 11 SB, 0.1 WAR)

Luis Torrens: C+

He leads MLB with a 41.9 percent caught stealing percentage (13-for-31). Need-to-know trivia: Alex Carrillo spent seven years pitching in foreign and independent leagues, finally got called up to The Show and the first out he ever recorded was Torrens picking off a runner at third. (.206/.276/.309, two HR, 14 RBI, 0.8 WAR)

Francisco Alvarez: F

He was sent down to the minors on June 21 with an OPS that would be a career low by 58 points. He’s also struggled defensively, with four passed balls in 35 games at catcher for the Mets. He has hit nine homers in 96 minor league at-bats (.876 OPS), but he’s also allowed eight passed balls in 20 games caught. (.236/.319/.333, three HR, 11 RBI, 0.8 WAR)

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