The New York Mets, who dominated the first half of the 2025 season, suffered a surprising collapse in the last two months that eliminated their chance of reaching the postseason. Their sharp decline in performance throughout August and September led to a final stretch record of 21-32, despite their strong start earlier in the year.
Mark Vientos, a Mets infielder who experienced a challenging season in 2025, attributed the team’s struggles to internal pressures and personal inconsistency. Reflecting on the factors behind the Mets’ downturn, he described the atmosphere surrounding the team during that period.
“It’s when there’s a bunch of noise and a bunch of talking, it’s just you go out there and play and don’t have fun,” Vientos said Monday. “It’s just like, ‘I gotta win. I gotta win.’ And I feel like we put too much pressure on ourselves last year.”
Vientos was open about his own performance issues during the slump, highlighting the lack of a steady routine as a key factor affecting his game throughout the season.
“It was just inconsistency overall,” Vientos said. “I think it starts with the routine and stuff before the game starts. I was inconsistent in that part and then that just kind of showed in my season. I didn’t feel good for most of the year. I didn’t have a routine to fall back on, that could keep me steady.”
After a breakout 2024 season when he hit 27 home runs, Vientos struggled in 2025, posting a .233 batting average with 17 homers. This downturn contributed to him losing his starting role in the Mets’ infield.
Vientos Responds to Competition From New Infield Acquisitions
During the offseason, the Mets bolstered their infield depth by adding Jorge Polanco and Bo Bichette, signaling a significant reshaping of the roster ahead of 2026. Despite these changes, Vientos remains confident and focused on teammates he is familiar with.
“I feel like there’s always a new group of guys every year, so it’s not really something different,” Vientos said. “I have [Brett] Baty still, I have [Francisco] Alvarez, [Ronny] Mauricio. Those are guys I have known since the beginning and they are still here with me, so it’s awesome to be around them still.”
With so many infielders now on the roster, rumors have linked Vientos to a possible trade. MLB insider Tim Kelly has mentioned the Pittsburgh Pirates as a potential destination for the infielder moving forward.
What the Future Holds for Vientos and the Mets
The Mets’ late-season slide and Mark Vientos’ personal inconsistency underscore the challenges the team must overcome before the 2026 campaign begins. While new signings bring fresh energy, the existing core players like Vientos, Baty, Alvarez, and Mauricio will need to find stability and cohesion to return the Mets to their early-season form. How the team addresses these issues, including potential roster moves, will likely determine their competitiveness next year.
