Baty stays hot, smacks 2 HRs
Brett Baty continued to rake against High-A pitching during Friday’s doubleheader versus Jersey Shore.
The Mets’ No. 4 prospect finished the twin bill with a combined line of 4-for-7 with two home runs, a double, six RBIs, three runs, a walk and a strikeout.
Baty’s productive day at the plate actually started on Thursday, during Brooklyn’s game that was halted in the third inning due to inclement weather. When the game picked up Friday evening, Baty had already racked up a solo home run and a double.
“It was a little bit weird just because we were picking it up in the top of the fourth and we didn’t really know what to expect, but it was awesome to come in and already have two hits under my belt in the game,” said Baty.
The sweet-swinging third basemen socked another blast in the seventh inning of Game 1 and finished the first contest 3-for-4 with his first career multihomer game. He was the main force behind Brooklyn's 6-4 victory.
“Me and the hitting coach over here, Nic Jackson, we’ve been in the cage grinding, just working on the little things, trying to make little adjustments,” said Baty. “I’m just trying to stay within myself right now, not trying to do too much or get out of my zone.”
The 21-year-old smacked a two-run single in the first inning of Game 2 to kick off the scoring for Brooklyn. He finished the nightcap 1-for-3, adding a strikeout to his final line in Brooklyn's 5-4 loss.
The 6-foot-3 lefty jumped out of the gate to start the season, recording hits in nine of his first 12 games and multiple hits in six contests during that stretch, highlighted by his four-hit performance against Hudson Valley on May 19.
His hot start to the year was followed by a quiet five game cold spell to end May. Baty went 1-for-15 in the last week of the month, dropping his batting average from .396 to .317, and his on-base percentage from .483 to .429.
Once the calendar turned to June, something clicked for Baty. All three of his home runs on the year have come in June, and he has torn Jersey Shore pitching apart in the four games Brooklyn has matched up with the BlueClaws. Baty is 9-for-15 in the series, with nine RBIs and five extra-base hits.
“Just a few minor adjustments and it’s been working out well,” said Baty of his recent power surge. “I knew it was going to come with time. I knew that first month I was just kind of getting my feet wet, first full season.”
The 2019 first-rounder is slashing .372/.468/.577 with an OPS of 1.045 after his recent hot streak. Baty’s 2019 season saw him flash his 60-grade power with 25 extra-base hits in 51 games. The Texas native has a knack for driving in runs as well, with 59 career RBIs over his 73 professional games.
Two top-ranked Mets prospects in Brooklyn’s lineup contributed at the plate in the doubleheader as well. Mets No. 1 prospect Francisco Álvarez slugged his second homer of the year in the fifth inning of Game 2, and No. 2 prospect Ronny Mauricio swatted three hits along with his fifth dinger of the season in Game 1.
“It’s incredible just to have those two guys either one in front and one behind or two in front, because I feel like their always on so I can always drive them in,” said Baty. “It’s great to have those two guys in the lineup and it benefits all of us just because we protect each other so much. They’re great dudes and they’re great players, I love playing with them."