Mets' Brett Baty explains mentality entering season debut, why 'it's going to be a lot different'

After dominating in nine game with Triple-A Syracuse, the Mets called up top prospect Brett Baty on Sunday as he'll make his season debut Monday night in Los Angeles when the team begins their three-game series against the Dodgers.

The 23-year-old is the No. 2 prospect in the Mets organization according to MLB Pipeline, and slashed .400/.500/.886 with five homers, 15 RBI and nine runs during his brief stint in the minors this season. Before he took the field at third base, Baty told reporters in the clubhouse that Syracuse's manager shared the news with him prior to their game on Sunday and that he'd be getting on a plane to join the Mets afterwards.

Baty didn't just crush it in the minors this season -- he also slashed .325/.460/.425 with one homer and six RBI in spring training. He went on to talk about his mentality heading back down to the minors after spring training and said his goals were "hitting the ball hard and playing good defense."

"I've always gone into every single day just trying to be the best player I can be and just be as consistent as possible," Baty said. "So when I did go down there, I was just focused on hitting the ball hard and playing good defense. It worked out down there and now I'm up here."

Baty was asked if he envisioned getting called back up to the majors this fast and said it wasn't even on his mind.

"I wasn't thinking about that at all," Baty said. "Like I said all spring training, it wasn't my decision and I just kind of had to roll with it. I was grateful for the opportunity to go down there and play with those guys and then grateful for this opportunity to come up here."

The Mets called Baty up for the first time on Aug. 16, 2022 as he'd go on to homer in his first at-bat and play 11 games in the big leagues last season. This time around Baty understands things are different.

"Yeah, I think this time it's going to be a lot different just because I know exactly what to expect now -- I got a little taste last year," Baty said. "Everything, everything about the day and everything like that I'm comfortable with now. The guys, I've been around them for a couple years now. So there's just a little bit more comfort to it and I feel good right now."

Baty said he told his father that playing in Triple-A alongside fellow top prospects Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio and Francisco Alvarez was "one of the most fun lineups" he's ever been a part of. He added that they "were just mashing balls all over the yard and it was super fun."

Despite all of the success, Baty wasn't thinking about when he'd get called up to the big leagues.

"I'm gonna be honest with you, it was really not on my mind," Baty said. "I try to be as present as possible wherever I am and just take it pitch to pitch and day by day. I was playing well but now it's a new test to tackle so I'm just going to come up here and try to continue and put together good ABs and play good defense for the team."

Baty acknowledged all of the hype among fans surrounding him, but said he tries to be "super grounded" and "present in every moment." He added that he has a couple friends in Los Angeles that will come see him play during the series and that his family is aiming to come to San Francisco when the Mets start a four-game series with the Giants on Thursday.