Slumping Mets call up power-hitting Vientos

The New York Mets have called up power-hitting prospect Mark Vientos from the minors in an attempt to boost their struggling offense.

The Mets officially promoted Vientos from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned infielder Luis Guillorme to Syracuse in a corresponding roster move Wednesday.

Vientos, 23, is batting .333 with 13 home runs, 37 RBIs and a 1.104 OPS in 38 games this season at Syracuse. He was rated as the Mets’ No. 6 prospect earlier this year by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.

Vientos has split playing time at first base and third base since the start of last season at Syracuse, although it is unclear where he will play defensively with the Mets.

Star first baseman Pete Alonso is tied for the major league lead with 14 homers, and rookie third baseman Brett Baty has shown flashes of promise since his April promotion from the minors, batting .244 with three homers. Vientos played briefly in left field at Double-A Binghamton in 2021 and could also see time with the Mets at designated hitter.

Vientos will make his season debut Wednesday against the Rays and bat eighth in the lineup against Tampa Bay left-hander Josh Fleming. The right-handed Vientos started at third base, while the left-handed hitting Baty was not in the starting lineup.

Alonso and Baty have been two bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season for the Mets (20-23), who enter Wednesday fourth in the National League East and 6½ games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves.

The Mets, who have lost 16 of their past 22 games, are 10th in the NL in runs scored (179), 11th in team batting average (.240), 11th in OPS (.704) and 13th in slugging percentage (.382).