Jun 11, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (22) and shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) talk in the outfield before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates
(New York, NY) – This past weekend was a rough one for young Brett Baty.
The New York Mets’ rookie third baseman had a night to forget on Saturday – after striking out in the eighth inning with the tying and go-ahead runs on base, he misplayed an infield fly – allowing the Dodgers to take an even bigger lead and effectively putting the game out of reach.
Baty’s mediocre numbers – a .238 batting average and .308 on base percentage with just a .414 OPS in July – have likely posed a mental challenge and impacted Baty’s confidence. Despite being a heralded rookie with success in the minors, things aren’t clicking at the big league level in 2023.
That’s where one of the team’s veterans will usually step in and try to help the youngster navigate the situation. Enter Francisco Lindor. The shortstop says he’s been talking with Baty regularly and trying to focus on staying positive – with an upbeat mindset: “If he finds a way to keep his head up and keep climbing and keep working, he’s going to be better because he is going through failure and he knows what success is.”
Lindor also discussed how it’s a big adjustment for any rookie as they get extended time in the show: “He didn’t fail as much last year, and in the minor leagues the game is not the same. Now that he’s going through all this stuff, he’s going to be better.”
Lindor says he sees Baty as “shy” and mostly looking inward for answers.
“He’s in a situation right now where he’s not having a lot of success and the team is not having a lot of success, so everything magnifies. It’s one of those things where he comes in here early, he’s working and he’s trying to get better, he’s studying and he will be better. It’s just a matter of when he turns that corner.”
Lindor predicted the young Baty will eventually succeed, adding he seems to do better “watching and learning” rather than talking things through.
