Luisangel Acuña has been a surprise star for the New York Mets, as he stepped up just when the team needed him most.
While Francisco Lindor has been dealing with an injury, Acuña has been holding things down and keeping the Mets in the playoff race.
What’s crazy is the Mets almost traded him at the deadline. Now, they’re thankful they didn’t because Acuña has been a game-changer.
Here’s the full story of how Acuña went from trade bait to a rising star.
- Since his September 14 call-up, Luisangel Acuña has been a key player for the Mets, hitting .379 with a 1.228 OPS and stepping up in Francisco Lindor’s absence.
- The Mets seriously considered trading Acuña at the deadline, but keeping him has proven to be a great decision for the team’s playoff push.
- Acuña’s success has kept the Mets competitive, and as Lindor gets closer to returning, the team’s chances of reaching the playoffs look even better.
The Rising Star that Mets Almost Let Go
Luisangel Acuña has quickly become a standout player for the New York Mets, but it’s hard to believe he was almost traded before his breakout moment.
At the 2023 MLB trade deadline, the Mets were more than open to trading their young prospect.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets were “seriously listening” to offers for Acuña.
Rival teams thought Acuña was the highest-ranked prospect the Mets were willing to move, which sounds wild considering how important he’s been lately.
Luckily, the Mets decided to keep him, and it’s a decision they definitely don’t regret.
Since Acuña was called up on September 14, he’s been tearing it up at the plate and shortstop.
Acuña’s Arrival: A Game-Changer for the Mets
Evidently, Acuña’s arrival couldn’t have come at a better time.
With Francisco Lindor missing games due to his nagging back injury, the Mets needed a player to hold down the shortstop position and deliver on offense.
Acuña has done both and more. In just nine games, Acuña has posted stats that have impressed fans and team officials, to say the least.
His .379 batting average, along with three home runs, two doubles, and even a triple.
Manager Carlos Mendoza praised Acuña’s calm demeanor: “He’s just calm, poised. It’s like he belongs in the big leagues.”
And it’s not just his hitting that’s caught everyone’s attention—he’s been solid on defense, too. He stepped into Lindor’s shoes at shortstop without missing a beat.
The Mets have gone 6-3 since Acuña joined the lineup, which has helped them hold onto their spot in the National League wild-card race.
David Stearns, the Mets’ president of baseball operations, admitted that they weren’t sure Acuña would perform this well right away, but they knew he wouldn’t let the pressure get to him.
Stearns said, “He believes he can perform in this environment. And, clearly, he has.”
The Trade That Almost Happened: Mets Listened to Offers for Acuña
It’s crazy to think about now, but the Mets almost traded Luisangel Acuña just a couple of months ago.
At the MLB trade deadline in 2023, there were serious discussions about moving Acuña to another team.
According to Jon Heyman, rival teams believed that Acuña was the top prospect the Mets were willing to part with.
The Mets were busy at the deadline as they made moves to bring in players like Paul Blackburn and Jesse Winker.
They even traded away Max Scherzer, the three-time Cy Young Award winner, in a deal that brought Acuña over from the Texas Rangers.
At the time, Acuña wasn’t exactly lighting up the minor leagues. He was hitting just .258 with seven home runs in Triple-A, so it might have seemed like a good time to trade him.
But, thankfully, the Mets didn’t pull the trigger on that trade. With Acuña playing so well in the big leagues, it’s clear they made the right call by keeping him.
With only six games left in the regular season, Acuña has helped the Mets stay in the mix for one of the three NL wild-card spots.
Currently, they’re half a game ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and their fate is in their own hands.
And this week’s series against the Atlanta Braves will be huge. If the Mets win two out of three games, they’ll lock in a playoff spot.
Even winning just one game will keep them in control of their playoff chances until the last weekend.
Acuña’s Role as Lindor Recovers
While Acuña has been shining, Francisco Lindor’s recovery from his back injury is a major concern for the Mets.
Lindor hasn’t played a full game since September 13, and he’s still dealing with pain. He explained that the injury comes and goes, making it hard for him to move when it flares up.
Lindor said, “It can’t be that constant, ‘I can’t move, I can’t move, I can’t move.’”
Even though Lindor is the team’s star, Acuña’s play has made sure the Mets don’t fall apart without him.
The team has gone 6-1 since Lindor was sidelined, and Acuña’s bat and glove have been key reasons for that success.
Still, the Mets know they need Lindor if they want to make a serious postseason run, so his health is a top priority as they approach the playoffs.
The big uncertainty for the Mets is what happens once Lindor is back.
Acuña has earned his spot in the lineup with his strong performances, so it’s unlikely they’ll bench him once Lindor returns.
Mets fans are excited to see what could happen if Lindor and Acuña play together in October.
The thought of having two standout players in the lineup has everyone hopeful for a deep postseason run.
