The New York Mets roster has felt like the 7-line train during rush hour, packed with constant movement as players shuffle on and off with every stop. Pitchers get called up, optioned back down, or designated for assignment in rapid succession, while position players wait in the wings for their chance to board. In a season as demanding as this, holding onto a spot is as tough as finding space in a crowded subway car.

Wednesday’s shuffle pushed José Castillo and Richard Lovelady off the roster, while Jonathan Pintaro and Brandon Waddell squeezed their way in. But the congestion hasn’t eased, there’s already someone waiting at the next stop. With Mark Vientos set to return tomorrow, attention turns to the position player group, where space is tight and options are limited. Someone’s about to get nudged toward the doors, despite a strong effort to stay on for another stop.

With Mark Vientos returning, Ronny Mauricio could be the next NY Mets player sent down despite a strong night.

Vientos made his final start for Triple-A Syracuse and is expected to arrive in Queens on Thursday. He hasn’t appeared in a game for the Amazins’ since June 2, when a right hamstring strain knocked him out of action during the Dodgers series. His return sets up a roster move that’s been building for days, and now the team will have to decide who stays and who heads out.

Vientos hasn’t looked like the version fans hoped to see in 2025. He returns with a .230 average, six home runs, 21 RBIs, and a .678 OPS across 187 at-bats, a far cry from the flashes he showed last season. But perhaps the time away served as a reset. Now he’s rejoining a roster that’s already seen its share of movement, and the Mets are hoping he settles in for more than just a short ride.

When Vientos stepped off back in early June, Mauricio was the one called up to take his place. He had barely re-entered the station himself, returning this season from a torn ACL that wiped out his entire 2024 campaign. He’d seen just 65 minor league at-bats before being promoted, hardly enough time to rebuild a foundation. But the Mets saw a hot streak in Syracuse and tried to ride it: a 17-for-33 stretch with three homers and eight RBIs earned him the call.

It’s been tougher sledding since. Even with Wednesday’s 3-for-4 performance and a home run against Atlanta, Mauricio is hitting just .224 with a .688 OPS while battling a 35% strikeout rate. The talent is there, but the timing and consistency still need work. Sending him back to Syracuse wouldn’t be waving the white flag; it would be giving him the regular at-bats he didn’t get after missing all of last year. He needs more time to reset, rebuild, and get back on track because right now, he’s just not quite ready to hold a seat long-term.

The Mets haven’t made a move yet, but if they’re weighing development over short-term flashes, Mauricio feels like the odd man out. His upside remains, but he’s still finding his footing after a lost year. With Vientos set to return, sending Mauricio back to Triple-A might be the smartest option. It’s not a demotion; it’s a chance to get right and be better prepared when the opportunity opens again.