The struggling New York Mets announced a series of roster changes on Monday, including the demotion of rookie infielder Luisangel Acuña to their Triple-A team, Syracuse. This decision comes as the Mets have lost eight of their last nine games and are now trailing the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.
Acuña, who is the younger brother of Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr., has had a challenging time at the plate recently. After beginning the season strong with a .308 batting average and earning NL rookie of the month honors for March and April, his performance has dwindled to .241. He has mainly been utilized as a pinch runner and defensive replacement, making regular playing time at Syracuse a likely opportunity for him to regain his form.
In additional roster moves, the Mets signed left-handed reliever Richard Lovelady to a one-year deal and selected outfielder Travis Jankowski’s contract from Triple-A. Lovelady, who has a solid track record with a 1.31 ERA in his recent games at Triple-A St. Paul, offers the Mets an extra weapon in the bullpen with his ability to mix pitches. Meanwhile, Jankowski, previously playing for the White Sox and Rays, has a history with the Mets after appearing in 43 games back in 2022.
In a positive update, ace pitcher Kodai Senga, who has been sidelined with a right hamstring injury, reported that he feels “great” and is looking to resume throwing off a mound soon. His manager, Carlos Mendoza, expressed optimism about Senga’s recovery, noting his consistent throwing even after the injury.
Right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas is also expected to make his Mets debut soon, coming off the 60-day injured list after recovering from a lat strain. Montas’ return is anticipated to bolster the Mets’ rotation, as Mendoza highlighted his expected impact based on the team’s investment in him during the offseason.
Further, outfielder Jose Siri has been moved to the 60-day injured list due to a left tibia fracture, adding another challenge for the Mets as they look to turn their season around.
Overall, while the Mets navigate through difficulties and injuries, there are signs of resilience and opportunities for players like Acuña and Senga as they seek to contribute positively moving forward.