When the New York Mets found themselves in a bind last September, needing a shortstop to cover for Francisco Lindor’s back injury, Luisangel Acuña answered the call. The Mets faithful braced for turbulence, but instead, Acuña made sure the ride was smooth. With his bat sizzling and his glove flashing, the Mets barely felt Lindor’s absence.
Acuña, one of the most exciting young players in the Mets’ system since arriving in the Max Scherzer trade, wasted no time making an impression. Over just 40 plate appearances, he slashed .308/.325/.641, posting a stellar 166 wRC+. In just 14 games, he racked up 0.