Mark Vientos' breakout NLDS performance key to Mets' postseason run

When New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz struck out Philadelphia Phillies leadoff man Kyle Schwarber to secure the 4-1 win and a trip to the National League Championship Series, the Mets' dugout rushed to the infield to celebrate with team leader Francisco Lindor.

After all, it was the shortstop's sixth-inning grand slam that gave the Mets all the runs they would need to win. .... But it wasn't Lindor who left this National League Division Series with the best performance at the plate.

That distinction goes to Mets third baseman Mark Vientos.

Of all the Mets and Phillies players in the NLDS, the 24-year-old Vientos posted the best batting average ( .563 ) followed by Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos at .412. Vientos also recorded five RBI and a series-best nine hits. The Phillies' best hitter of the series, Castellanos, had three RBI and seven hits.

Through seven games of the postseason , Vientos has batted .429 and leads the Mets with 12 hits and seven RBI while Lindor has batted .259 and recorded seven hits and six RBI.

This isn't to suggest Vientos has surpassed the Mets' best player — they'll need Lindor to hit better to keep winning — but it shows that Vientos' hot streak continues to bolster the lineup outside of superstars like Lindor.

The story of Game 2 of the NLDS was Castellanos hitting a walk-off single to get the Phillies' lone win of the series. But it was Vientos' game-tying two-run home run , his second of the night, that kept the Mets in the game and almost forced extra innings.

Vientos has also shown flashes of brilliance fielding the ball (despite committing one costly error this postseason) and making the key long throws from third to first base. According to ESPN , he's recorded 15 assists and four putouts so far — the most of any third baseman in the postseason.

"It's pretty impressive," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told SNY when asked about Vientos' NLDS Game 2 performance. "His ability to slow the game down, just having the awareness of the situation, and he continues to come through. He looks calm and under control, it's been very impressive."

After being called up from Triple-A in June, Vientos hit 26 home runs and knocked in 69 RBI, taking over third base from fellow " Baby Met " Brett Baty. It's a moniker Lindor gave the trio of Baty, Vientos and catcher Francisco Alvarez — on account of the group's youth and inexperience in the majors — but it seems Vientos is outgrowing the nickname by meeting the moment.

He was a crucial part of the Mets' chase for a wild-card berth in September and is poised to be a key part of their October run by being an outlet for success beyond the Mets' recognizable stars.

If Vientos' current form continues, it just might be him the dugout rushes to in the next celebration.