A New Show In Town

By Mike Rifkin

On Saturday the Mets recalled one of their top prospects in Luis Angel Acuna. Acuna, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Rangers in exchange for Max Scherzer. Steve Cohen ate a lot of Scherzer’s salary to acquire Acuna. Acuna, has been playing shortstop in the absence of Fransisco Lindor, who is dealing with a back issue. 

Acuna, on Tuesday night had his best game of his young career going 3-4 with a double and a home run (first career), two RBI’S and three runs scored. Acuna has five hits in his first 11 at bats and has looked solid so far at the plate, but it’s just a glimpse into what the future. 

So I am not thinking about the playoffs for Acuna (right now), but long term where can Acuna play? Well, Lindor is locked up at Shortstop long term, so that’s off the table. Mark Vientos has had a great season, has locked up third base, unless Pete Alonso leaves in free agency which remains a possibility (though the fans don’t want him to). So that leaves second base, Jeff McNeil. McNeil had a putrid first half of the season, but was sensational in the second half, before fracturing his wrist on a hit by pitch. McNeil is signed through 2028, although there is a club option for 2027. Jose Iglesias has had a fantastic season, and the Mets can bring him back as a part time player next season to potentially back up Acuna, Acuna also has had some outfield experience, but with Starling Marte and Brandon Nimmo signed for next season, it’s unlikely unless the Mets put Acuna in Center Field. But that’s a problem for later, right now Mets fans have to love what they’ve seen from Acuna, so early in his career. Hopefully he can become a staple in the Mets lineup for years, like his brother is for the Braves.