MLB Player News

Vientos went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run against the Rays in an extra-inning win Wednesday.

Vientos was called up from Triple-A Syracuse prior to the contest and provided a big spark in his first major-league game of the campaign, putting the Mets on the board with a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh inning. The long ball was the second of his big-league career, as he went deep once over 36 at-bats with the Mets last season. Vientos was dominating in the minors this year prior to his call-up, slashing .333/.416/.688 with 11 doubles, 13 homers and 37 RBI over 166 plate appearances.

Morel went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a walk and two total runs scored in Wednesday's 7-6 loss to the Astros.

This was Morel's first three-hit effort of the season, and he's hit safely in all eight games he's played so far. The 23-year-old is making loud contact too, with five homers and two doubles through 36 plate appearances. He's slashing .371/.389/.857 with 10 RBI, nine runs scored and a stolen base.

Harper went 1-for-4 with one run scored and one steal in Wednesday's loss to San Francisco.

Harper and Nick Castellanos pulled off a double steal in the fourth inning. Harper stole a career-high 21 bases back in 2016. Despite the late start to 2023, Harper could push for 15 or so steals again, as he already has two in 13 games.

Winker is out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Cardinals.

Winker was on the bench Tuesday with the Cardinals throwing left-hander Jordan Montgomery and he'll remain there Wednesday with young southpaw Matthew Liberatore set to toe the slab. William Contreras is taking a turn as the DH and Victor Caratini is catching.

The Nationals will place Meneses on the paternity list Wednesday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Meneses will miss at least one and as many as three games to be with his wife as she gives birth to the couple's child. Utility man Jake Alu will be called up from Triple-A Rochester to take Meneses' spot on the 26-man active roster.

Vogelbach is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.

He'll remain on the bench for the fourth game in a row, with each of the lefty-hitting Vogelbach's absences coming against left-handed pitching. Vogelbach has held a strong-side platoon role at designated hitter for most of the season, but he could face a threat for work against right-handed pitching with the Mets bringing aboard power-hitting corner infielder Mark Vientos from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.

Baker, 26, leads all Triple-A hitters with 14 home runs and has a .302/.436/.669 slash line in 39 games for Memphis.

The rule for players like Baker who will provide zero or negative defensive value is that they need to hit a lot at every level on their path to the majors, and Baker failed in that respect last year at Triple-A, slashing .228/.288/.394 in 124 games. However, he's been so good this season that he can't be completely written off as a Quadruple-A hitter. His 40 percent hard-hit rate and 11.6 percent soft-hit rate are excellent marks, and his 0.80 BB/K is the best ratio of his career. Even so, Baker is stuck behind Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Gorman, Juan Yepez and Alec Burleson on the organizational depth chart at first base and designated hitter for now.

The Mets recalled Vientos from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.

Vientos earned the promotion by putting together a 1.104 OPS with 13 home runs across 166 plate appearances at Syracuse. He might initially only start against lefties but could certainly play his way into an everyday role. Vientos is included in the starting nine against a lefty (Josh Fleming) in Wednesday's game against the Rays, manning third base and batting eighth while the lefty-hitting Brett Baty takes a seat.

Martinez is not in the starting lineup against the Twins on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Martinez will take a seat against right-hander Sonny Gray and Minnesota on Wednesday. Jason Heyward will hit fifth while lining up as the designated hitter.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Choi (Achilles) has resumed light baseball activities, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Choi is about four weeks into an estimated eight-week recovery timetable until he's cleared to take part in full baseball activities, but he's able to do a little light hitting and throwing now. He may not be ready for game action until late June or early July while he works his way back from a left Achilles injury.