Brett Baty determined to be the Mets’ third base response soon

DENVER – If no one will mistake Double-A for the big leagues, then there is something to be said for closeness.

“Everyone has always said that once you get to Double-A, you’re just a phone call away from the big leagues. So I know it’s very close, ”said Mets prospect Brett Baty on Sunday at Coors Field before playing in the All-Star Futures Game. “I just can’t wait to get up there and start with these guys.”

The Mets announced last week that Baty, the 12th overall in the 2019 Entry Draft, will join Double-A Binghamton from here after posting a .309 / .397 / .514 line for Single-A Brooklyn in the first half. This marks the first full professional season for the Texas native, who spent the last year working at the Mets’ alternative site in Brooklyn as the pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the entire minor league season.

“It was super tough last year, but luckily I was able to go to the alternate site and put some games there, and then they sent me to [instructional league instructs in Florida], so I had more games there, ”Baty said. “It was really hard not to have a full season or whatever. But I just tried to study my trade and tried to play baseball every day.

Offensively, while Baty is satisfied with his discipline at the plate, as evidenced by his percentage on the base, he wants to improve in recognition of the field.

But as he ascends, Baty is convinced that he doesn’t need to leave the hot corner, a position that hardly involves a long-time occupant at Citi Field.

“I’m just working on the side speed over there. Work on hand speed, stuff like that, ”he said. “I feel like I have the strength in my arms to stay there.”