The New York Mets made a significant roster move on Saturday by calling up infielder Luisangel Acuña from Triple-A Syracuse for his major league debut. Acuña, who is the younger brother of Atlanta Braves standout Ronald Acuña Jr., is considered one of the Mets’ top prospects. During his time at Syracuse, Acuña showcased his skills by hitting .258 and stealing 40 bases while playing various positions such as second base, shortstop, and center field.
At just 22 years old, Luisangel Acuña was inserted into the Mets’ starting lineup at shortstop against the Philadelphia Phillies, batting ninth. The Mets acquired Acuña when they traded Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers in July 2023. In order to make room for Acuña on the roster, outfielder DJ Stewart was sent down by the Mets.
The Mets are currently in a tight race with the Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Diego Padres for three NL wild card spots. With a record of 81-66, the Mets are holding the third spot, one game ahead of Atlanta and one game behind Arizona.
Acuña’s promotion came after All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor exited Friday night’s game against the Phillies due to lower back soreness. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza described the move to bring up Acuña as a precautionary measure. Additionally, Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil was recently placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right wrist fracture sustained from being hit by a pitch on September 6.
It remains to be seen how Acuña will perform in his major league debut and what impact he will have on the Mets as they compete for a spot in the postseason.
