Mets' Vientos Reflects on 'Forcing Wins' in Disappointing 2025 Season

Young slugger believes team put too much pressure on itself as noise mounted last year

Feb. 9, 2026 at 7:15pm

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Mets infielder Mark Vientos believes the team was "forcing wins" last season as pressure mounted, leading to an inconsistent and disappointing campaign. Vientos, who had a breakout 2024 season, struggled with his routine and felt the team was not having fun as it tried to maintain the best record in baseball for much of the year before collapsing down the stretch.

Why it matters

Vientos' comments provide insight into the Mets' struggles last season and the mental toll the high expectations and external pressure took on the team. As the Mets look to rebound in 2026, understanding what went wrong in 2025 will be crucial to avoiding a similar fate.

The details

Vientos, 26, said the Mets were "forcing wins" last season instead of just going out and playing freely. He felt the team put too much pressure on itself as the "noise and talking" mounted around the club. After having the best record in baseball in mid-June, the Mets went just 21-32 over the final two months to miss the playoffs by one game.

  • The Mets had the best record in baseball in mid-June 2025.
  • The Mets went 21-32 over the final two months of the 2025 season.
  • Vientos made his comments on February 9, 2026, at Mets spring training in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

The players

Mark Vientos

A 26-year-old infielder for the Mets who had a breakout 2024 season but struggled with inconsistency in 2025, losing his starting job.

Pete Alonso

The Mets' star first baseman who departed the team in the offseason.

Brandon Nimmo

The Mets' longtime outfielder who left the team in the offseason.

Jeff McNeil

The Mets' versatile infielder who was traded away in the offseason.

Edwin Díaz

The Mets' dominant closer who departed the team in the offseason.

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What they’re saying

“It's when there's a bunch of noise and a bunch of talking, it's just you go out there and play and don't have fun. It's just like, 'I gotta win. I gotta win.' And I feel like we put too much pressure on ourselves last year.”

— Mark Vientos, Mets Infielder

What’s next

Vientos will look to rebound in 2026 and secure a more consistent role with the Mets, who have undergone significant roster turnover in the offseason.

The takeaway

Vientos' comments highlight the mental toll the Mets' high expectations and external pressure took on the team last season, leading to a disappointing collapse down the stretch. As the Mets look to bounce back, understanding and addressing those issues will be crucial to the team's success.