How upstart Mark Vientos added 'personal' chapter to Mets' magical story

LOS ANGELES — After the Dodgers intentionally walked Francisco Lindor in the second inning Monday afternoon, the 24-year-old hitting behind the Mets' MVP candidate looked perplexed. Mark Vientos raised his sunglasses and tipped his head to the side, almost in disbelief that they wanted to pitch to him. 

"I took it personal," Vientos said after launching the second grand slam of the Mets' postseason in a 7-3 win that evened the National League Championship Series at one game apiece. 

If the Dodgers didn't know much earlier this year about the Mets third baseman, who was 10 games into his 2024 season the last time these teams faced off in the regular season, they do now.

"I mean, I want to be up there during that at-bat," Vientos continued. "I want them to walk Lindor in that situation, put me up there." 

Vientos, now a fixture hitting near the top of the Mets' lineup, wasn't even the likeliest 24-year-old to earn his team's job at the hot corner this year. The 2017 second-round pick's season began at Syracuse, and he sported a .610 OPS over parts of two big-league seasons entering this year. 

But this version of Vientos, who made the Dodgers pay for the free pass, is not like previous iterations. 

"My man's got a lot of confidence in himself," Sean Manaea said. "I love that."

Why wouldn't he? 

On Monday, Vientos' blast gifted the Mets starter an early 6-0 lead that provided plenty of cushion during his five innings of work. 

"Ever since he got here," Manaea continued, "he's been doing some crazy things." 

When the season began, Brett Baty was the Mets' starting third baseman. But the former top prospect's struggles out of the gate opened a door, and Vientos, who was recalled on May 15, stepped through with a giant leap.