Mark Vientos looks for second-half resurgence with Mets IL stint set to end

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.Mark Vientos posted a monster second half of the 2024 season for the Mets after spending a couple of early stints in the minors.This year’s extended absence amid another slow offensive start for Vientos was due to spending more than three weeks on the injured list after he suffered a hamstring injury in early June.The slugging third baseman is expected to be activated from the 10-day IL ahead of Friday’s game in Pittsburgh, with an eye on reestablishing himself as a lineup mainstay again over the final 80 games.“Oh, man, it’s good to be back with the guys and seeing a bunch of faces that I missed, and officially playing with the team pretty soon,” the 25-year-old Vientos said in the Mets’ clubhouse before Thursday’s 4-0 win over the Braves at Citi Field.

“I feel like there’s always a trend with me and first halves throughout my career.And I feel like that’s a good thing, that it’s a long season.

Baseball is a long season.That’s why, when they say, ‘Change [the schedule from] 162 games,’ I’m the one that says, ‘No, I want all those games.’ ”Indeed, Vientos emerged from his early-season demotion to Triple-A Syracuse to finish last year with 27 home runs and 71 RBIs with an OPS of .837 over 111 games.

He then added five more homers and a team-best 14 RBIs in 13 postseason appearances.“Mark, he’s a big part of this team.We saw what he was, what he did for us last year, and we’re counting on him again,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.

“He’s a guy who can drive the ball to all fields and give you good at-bats.The power is real.

We’re going to need him.“We get him going, we’re talking about having a deep lineup one through nine.And when you have a guy like we saw last year, he can hit anywhere in the lineup — 2-3-4-6-7.

You just add to the quality of the players that we have...