Standing at 28-16, the New York Mets are riding high. Best record in the National League? Check. League-leading +65 run differential? Check. They have the vibe that screams, “October-bound.” But wait, just when everything seems like it’s falling into the right places, baseball is doing what baseball does—it throws a curveball yet again.

Injuries are piling up left, right, and center. A.J. Minter, Danny Young, Jesse Winker, and Jose Siri are all sidelined. And while the team has managed to stay hot and heavy, there is a sense of worry. A stress is looming that the early-season glow can fade if reinforcements don’t come soon.

But currently, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns is not panicking. Instead, he is keeping his eye peeled and also making a plan. Because in baseball, nothing is guaranteed. Just ask the Dodgers!

Stearns told reporters, “In terms of external acquisitions, we’re always monitoring, but sometimes it takes a little bit deeper into the season to find the right fit, and I don’t see any specific glaring spot on the team right now that maybe we had last year at this time that we feel like we need to be extremely proactive about. But if there are areas where we feel like we can get better and players are available, we’re certainly going to make a deal.” And that might be sooner than later. Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea are still waiting to make their 2025 debut. So once they return, the Mets could get their boost soon. But pitching isn’t the only concern.

Turns out defense has become a sore spot, too. Francisco Lindor has committed six errors, and that has dragged his fielding percentage to .939. In the losses to the Minnesota Twins and Marlins, his misplays had cost the Mets, and for that matter, even Mark Vientos is among the ones in a mess. And Stearns didn’t sugarcoat it, saying, “I think we can play better defense. That’s an area we can get better.”

So maybe there will be reinforcements in those areas. But that being said, not everything is doom and gloom. Juan Soto is back to being himself. The New York Mets look like contenders for October, and there is one player who is displaying a highlight reel-worthy play: Brett Baty.

New York Mets’ David Stearns was never worried about Brett Baty

If you have been watching the New York Mets lately, the name Brett Baty is starting to pop. After bouncing back to the big league squad, he has brought some serious energy during the Mets’ latest home stand. There, they won four of five before cooling off with 0-for-2 against the Pirates on Wednesday. But don’t let a quiet game fool you. David Stearns saw this coming a long time ago.

Stearns, being more like a proud coach than a front office executive, said, “He’s clearly seeing the ball well. He’s gotten some pitches he can handle, and he hasn’t missed them.” According to him, it’s not just one thing; it is confidence, the talent, and the preparation—the whole package. And coming to preparation, Carlos Mendoza also recently gave a peek behind the curtain about the training that Baty has been taking.

It turns out that Baty’s been training with a high-velocity machine and taking unpredictable BP sessions, where he has no clue what pitch is coming. It’s the kind of grind that’s showing up in his numbers. A .462 average, four homers, and seven RBIs over five games. It’s not a hot streak—it is a statement. Even his ground ball rate, which was around 50% in the first 12 games, has dropped to 38%. So he is evolving as a player.

Stearns seems to be thrilled with Baty, and rightly so. Whether he decides that reinforcements might be needed for the Mets or now remains to be seen. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.