Mets Luisangel Acua doing everything he can to prove late season success wasnt fluke
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets from spring training PORT ST.LUCIE — Luisangel Acuña had so much fun playing winter ball in his native Venezuela that he texted his Mets manager to ask if it was OK to extend beyond the one-month stint that had been agreed to beforehand.That request was denied by Carlos Mendoza, but the 22-year-old infielder’s enthusiasm was admirable.“I wanted to learn as much as possible and I wanted to play in my country,” Acuña said Sunday through an interpreter.
“I had fun.It was a very good experience.”It’s just the latest adventure to fall into that category for Acuña, who last season was promoted to the Mets for the first time, appeared in 14 games in September and was added to the postseason roster.Acuña’s contributions — he produced a .966 OPS in 40 plate appearances — were helpful in the Mets clinching a wild-card berth as Francisco Lindor rested his ailing back.But even that jolt he provided after a season in which he largely struggled offensively at Triple-A Syracuse isn’t enough to guarantee a spot on the Mets roster this season.
Acuña posted a .654 OPS in 131 games for Syracuse.Nick Madrigal and Brett Baty are both competing this spring for a backup job in the infield.Ronny Mauricio will be another option as the season progresses — he is still taking it slow after missing last season to rehab from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the knee.
Mauricio had a followup procedure in August to remove scar tissue that had formed.Madrigal dislocated his left shoulder on a fielding play Sunday and the Mets were awaiting results of an MRI exam.Acuña is trying to become more disciplined with pitch selection.
He said one of his goals in Venezuela was to refine his approach on low-and-away pitches.“I wanted to eliminate the part of the zone where I am prone to hitting ground balls,” Acu...