Brett Baty: Mets 2022 Minor League Player Of The Year

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Over a nine-day August stretch Brett Baty got promoted twice, to Triple-A Syracuse on Aug. 8 and to New York on Aug. 17.

The 22-year-old third baseman’s highs included blasting a homer in his first MLB at-bat. His season ended two weeks later when he had surgery for a torn thumb ligament

Injuries to Luis Guillorme and Eduardo Escobar presented the opportunity for Baty, who moved to Triple-A after a standout stretch at Double-A Binghamton.

In 95 games with Binghamton and Syracuse, the 2019 first-round pick produced at a .315/.410/.533 level with 19 home runs, 49 walks and 104 strikeouts.

“It’s very hard to find someone of his age who put up the numbers that he did,” Mets farm director Kevin Howard said.

Baty set career highs in home runs and with a .943 OPS.

“He got out of the gate slow and just got better and better going through the season, and I think that is what you look for in your prospects is they continue to figure things out.

“Every pitcher he faced, (Baty) is the main guy in the lineup who they are really game-planning against. And I think that makes it difficult on some prospects sometimes, because they get pitched up.”

Baty is still working on his footwork defensively. He committed 15 errors in 72 games at third base in the minors—a .918 fielding percentage—but has impressed the organization with his strong, accurate throws. He also plays left field.

“Even as a young guy, his arm is one of the best out of third basemen I have seen in the big leagues, so I think he’s not far off,” Howard said. “He made some good plays and he impressed people while he was up there.”

A point of emphasis for Baty this season was hitting the ball in the air more often.

“I have always tried to hit the ball hard, just all over the field,” Baty said. “I figured it was going to come soon enough, and this year it kind of showed a little bit. I think I am just scratching the surface, though. I feel I can do a lot more.”