With Bo Bichette now at third base, Brett Baty finds himself without a clear position. There’s talk he might switch to first base, which he trained for during the off-season, or even left field. The Mets need more outfielders, but can Baty really handle that role?
Baty has played about 250 innings in left field across 30 games, but only one inning was in the majors. David Stearns, during a Winter Meetings interview, expressed confidence in Baty’s versatility. He said, “Brett did a great job last year of creating some positional flexibility for himself. We’re comfortable with him at second base and think he can adapt to the outfield if we need him there.”
Scouting reports reveal what experts think about Baty’s defensive skills. Baseball America noted his improvement at third but mentioned he has potential in the outfield, saying, “He’s athletic enough to play there and get his bat in the lineup.” Meanwhile, Baseball Prospectus observed his mixed performance in the field but suggested right field might be a better fit for him. MLB Pipeline remarked that while he’s a strong defender at third, he has the athleticism for left field too.
Speed matters in the outfield, and Baty’s sprint speed last year was 27.0 feet per second, ranking him among decent company. This isn’t a deal-breaker for playing left field, but he’ll need to improve his first steps and route-taking skills. Although he lacks explosive speed, he can still work on his agility and reactions.
A scouting report from Amazin Avenue added that Baty is not the fastest out of the gate, but he can be effective once he’s moving. This suggests he may need time and more practice to become a reliable outfielder. Interestingly, we’ve seen players like Brandon Nimmo improve significantly with coaching; he changed from a negative routes fielder to above average in just a year.
As for Baty’s arm strength, he averaged throws at 81.2 MPH in 2025, which is lower than in previous years. Statcast data shows that outfielders often throw harder due to running starts, so there might still be untapped potential in Baty’s throwing ability. Scouting reports previously rated his arm strength highly.
In conclusion, Baty has the tools to play left field, but he isn’t ready for a full-time role just yet. His development will depend on improving various aspects of his game. With targeted coaching from the Mets, he might evolve into a versatile player, similar to Jeff McNeil, contributing in multiple spots on the field.
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