LOS ANGELES – Mark Vientos stood in the on-deck circle at Dodger Stadium, keenly observing as opposing manager Dave Roberts opted for an intentional walk of Francisco Lindor. With a subtle adjustment of his sunglasses and a slight raise of his eyebrow, Vientos signaled his readiness. He donned his helmet, gripped his bat, and made his way to the plate.
“For sure,” Vientos remarked, “I took it personal.”
The grand slam that followed not only propelled the Mets to a 7-3 victory over the Dodgers in National League Championship Series Game 2 on Monday, leveling the series at one game each, but it also solidified Vientos’ status as one of the franchise’s premier postseason performers. With 11 RBIs in this postseason alone, Vientos has matched Daniel Murphy’s impressive tally from his historic playoff run in 2015, leaving him just one short of the Mets’ record of 12, shared by Curtis Granderson (2015) and John Olerud (1999).
Remarkably, Vientos is achieving this in his first postseason appearance at just 24 years old, during a season in which he didn’t even make the Mets’ Opening Day roster.
“He’s got that South Florida grit,” noted teammate J.D. Martinez. “He has a certain edge to him. He knows how to hit, and he’s unafraid of the moment. That’s where that drive comes from. You need to play with a bit of tenacity.”
Throughout this postseason, Vientos has consistently demonstrated that tenacity. After Lindor kicked off NLCS Game 2 with a home run, breaking the Dodgers’ record-tying 33-inning scoreless streak, the Mets rallied in the second inning with a hit, a walk, and a Tyrone Taylor RBI double. Just two batters later, Roberts chose to intentionally walk Lindor, loading the bases with two outs.
“We had an opportunity to minimize damage,” Roberts explained, referencing pitcher Landon Knack’s ability to take the count in his favor. “You’ve got Vientos at 1-2, then he works it to 3-2, and then you make a mistake with your heater. That was a significant hit, obviously.”
On the ninth pitch of the at-bat, Vientos connected just enough with a 95.1 mph fastball, sending it a Statcast-projected 391 feet over the right-center fence. This marked the Mets’ second grand slam of the month, following Lindor’s shot in NLDS Game 4, making them one of just 13 teams to hit multiple slams in a single postseason. Notably, it was also the fourth postseason grand slam this century to occur immediately after an intentional walk, joining the ranks of Howie Kendrick (2019 NLDS), Miguel Montero (2016 NLCS), and Paul Goldschmidt (2011 NLDS).
“I use it as motivation,” Vientos stated. “I think, ‘Okay, you want me up, I’ll show you. Whatever.’”
Two innings later, Vientos recorded a single, achieving his sixth multihit game in nine playoff appearances. His 14 hits this postseason tie him for ninth in Mets history for a single postseason.
This resurgence is a far cry from what many anticipated as Vientos struggled to make his mark at the Major League level for much of three seasons. However, since being called up for good in late May, he has not only solidified his position but is also on the path to stardom.
“I definitely want to be in that situation,” Vientos affirmed. “I hope they walk Lindor there. Just let me step up. At that moment, I focused on simplifying the game — just get one run, get on base, whatever it takes to add to the score. Fortunately, I connected for a bomb.”
The Mets didn’t simply coast to victory from that point; it required over five solid innings from starting pitcher Sean Manaea and key contributions from relievers Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, and Edwin Díaz in the later innings. However, Vientos’ grand slam provided enough breathing room for the Mets, preventing Los Angeles’ most threatening rallies from fully mounting.
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Additionally, the game enhanced the reputation of a player affectionately dubbed “Swaggy V” by his teammates for obvious reasons. Like Lindor, Vientos has a flair for fashion, enjoying vibrant accessories and stylish shoes. Back in New York, he proudly displays around a dozen pairs in front of his locker.
Yet those close to Vientos know that the nickname reflects more than just his fashion choices; it embodies his entire attitude.
“There’s one thing Mark doesn’t lack, and that’s confidence,” Lindor expressed. “As a player, he firmly believes in himself. He never shies away from challenges. I’m thrilled for him. He’s matured. If he continues on this path, he’s going to become a truly exceptional player.”
