Mets send rookie infielder Luisangel Acuña to minors in roster shuffle
Philadelphia Phillies' Buddy Kennedy (19) is forced out at second as New York Mets second baseman Luisangel Acuna (2) throws to first in the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
New York Mets' Luisangel Acuña slides to score during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, May 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets second base Luisangel Acuña warms up before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Friday, June 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Mets second base Luisangel Acuña warms up before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Friday, June 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Philadelphia Phillies' Buddy Kennedy (19) is forced out at second as New York Mets second baseman Luisangel Acuna (2) throws to first in the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
New York Mets' Luisangel Acuña slides to score during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, May 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets second base Luisangel Acuña warms up before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Friday, June 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie infielder Luisangel Acuña was sent to the minors by the slumping New York Mets amid a flurry of roster moves Monday.
New York also signed left-handed reliever Richard Lovelady to a one-year deal and selected the contract of outfielder Travis Jankowski from Triple-A Syracuse. Both were available for the opener of a four-game series against Atlanta.
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Acuña, the younger brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., was optioned to Syracuse along with right-handed reliever Tyler Zuber following Sunday night's 7-1 loss at Philadelphia.
Before that game, the Mets demoted another touted youngster to Syracuse: catcher Francisco Alvarez.
New York had lost eight of nine going into Monday, falling a game behind the first-place Phillies in the NL East.
Acuña, acquired from Texas in 2023 for three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, has scuffled lately at the plate after hitting .308 with six steals to earn NL rookie of the month honors for March/April. The 23-year-old has slumped to a .241 batting average and largely been relegated to pinch running and defensive-replacement duties. He is expected to receive regular playing time at Syracuse.
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In other news, ace pitcher Kodai Senga, speaking through a translator, told reporters his injured right hamstring feels 'great' and he hopes to throw off a mound soon. Senga, injured covering first base June 12 against Washington, believes a rehab assignment is 'on the horizon.'
After being limited to one start during the 2024 regular season because of shoulder and calf injuries, Senga was brilliant in his first 13 starts this year, going 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA.
Jankowski signed a minor league contract with New York on June 10. He is playing on his third major league team in 2025, after spending time with the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. He received a spring training invite from the Chicago Cubs but was released on March 12.
Jankowski appeared in 43 games for the Mets in 2022. He played college ball at Stony Brook University, located on Long Island less than 40 miles from Citi Field.
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Lovelady had been pitching at Triple-A St. Paul in the Minnesota Twins organization before getting released last week. The 29-year-old reliever had a 1.31 ERA in 19 outings.
Lovelady made two appearances for Toronto in March and also has pitched for the Royals, Rays, Athletics and Cubs during a six-year career. He is 5-13 with a 5.26 ERA and three saves in 110 games, holding left-handed hitters to a .232 batting average.
Right-hander Frankie Montas is expected to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday to make his Mets debut. Montas, signed to a $34 million, two-year contract in December, has been sidelined since spring training with a right lat strain.
In another roster move, outfielder Jose Siri (left tibia fracture) was transferred to the 60-day IL.
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