Brett Baty starts at shortstop for first time in MLB with Mets exploring versatility

Brett Baty took the field at shortstop for the first time in his major-league career, MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reported, with the Mets using the season's final stretch to probe what the young infielder can offer defensively beyond his established positions.

What happened

Per DiComo's report, the Mets gave Baty his first MLB start at shortstop as the organization looks to develop his defensive versatility. The club has not issued a formal positional designation announcement in connection with the move.

Why it matters

Late September is when rosters expand and clubs quietly run experiments they couldn't afford earlier in the year. For a team sitting at 73-87 and eliminated from both the division race and the Wild Card race, the calculus shifts: wins matter less than information. Seeing whether Baty can handle shortstop in live game conditions costs the Mets nothing in the standings and could meaningfully expand his roster utility heading into the offseason.

Defensive versatility is organizational currency. A corner infielder who can also cover shortstop in a pinch is a different roster construction asset than one who cannot — and that distinction tends to matter when front offices are building depth charts for the following spring.

Where the club stands

The Mets are 73-87 (.456), sitting fifth in the NL East, 20 games back in the division, and 14.0 games relative to the Wild Card cut line, ranked 10th in that race. They have dropped their last two and are eliminated from both the division and Wild Card races. Saturday's probable matchup at Nationals Park has Jonah Tong going for New York against Washington's Connelly Early, with Sunday featuring Sean Manaea opposite DJ Herz.

The roster around Baty has been in motion in recent days. Two days before this start, the club claimed left-hander Philip Abner off waivers from the Giants. The day after that claim, MLB.com's transaction log showed Xzavion Curry being designated for assignment — and by Friday, the club had outrighted Curry to their FCL affiliate. Meanwhile, the front office made a significant addition of its own: the Mets announced the hiring of Derek Falvey, the former Twins president of baseball operations, in a senior baseball operations role.

On the field, Carson Benge gave the fanbase something to follow this week, becoming the first Mets rookie to reach 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season, per earlier reporting — a milestone that has strengthened his Rookie of the Year case. The injury picture has also shaped this season's final chapter: Juan Soto missed significant time due to two separate calf injuries, limiting him to 108 games, per prior reporting.

What we don't know yet

DiComo's report does not specify whether the Mets intend to continue starting Baty at shortstop in the remaining games, or whether this was a one-time look. It is also not reported whether the club has formally designated shortstop as a position Baty will carry on his defensive profile going forward.

What to watch

With a handful of games remaining, watch whether Baty gets additional time at shortstop in the Washington series or beyond. If the Mets keep running him out there, that is a signal the organization liked what it saw. If it stays a one-game look, it may have been more exploratory than conclusive. Either way, the front office — now with Falvey joining the baseball operations structure — will be evaluating exactly this kind of information as it shapes the roster going forward.