New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos is headed to the injured list after suffering a fractured bone in his right hand when he was hit by a pitch during Thursday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals.
The injury occurred in the second inning of a 7-3 Mets home victory. Vientos, 26, was struck by a 92.2 mph sinker thrown by Kansas City pitcher Michael Wacha. He stayed in the game long enough to run the bases on his own but was pulled from his position at third base when the third inning began.
Speaking with reporters following the game, Mets interim manager Andy Green said it remained uncertain whether Vientos would require surgery. If the fractured bone turns out to be the hamate, surgery would likely be necessary, sidelining him for roughly four to six weeks.
“I’m just disappointed for what he’s going through right now,” Green said.
The injury comes during an already difficult season for Vientos. Through 73 games, he is batting just .211 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs, and his time on the field has been shrinking.
After Vientos left the game, Brett Baty shifted from second base to cover third, while A.J. Ewing made his first major league appearance at second base despite having started the game in center field. Tyrone Taylor stepped into the lineup and took over in center field.
According to MLB.com, infielder Ronny Mauricio — who was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse just this past Tuesday — is considered the top candidate to fill Vientos’ spot on the active roster.
Now in his fifth season with New York, Vientos was originally selected by the Mets in the second round of the 2017 draft. Over 386 career games, he holds a .234 batting average with 65 home runs and 192 RBIs. His standout year came in 2024, when he posted a .266 average along with 27 home runs and 71 RBIs across 111 games.
