Brett Baty batting eighth in season debut for Mets

The New York Metson Monday recalledBrett Baty, their top infield prospect, from Triple-A Syracuse.

Baty joined the Mets in Los Angeles for the start of their three-game series against the Dodgers. He was hitting eighth and playing third base in the opener.

The Mets also recalled right-hander Edwin Uceta from Syracuse. It placed outfielder Tim Locastro on the 10-day injured list with back spasms and optioned righty Jose Butto to Syracuse.

Coming out of spring training, Baty opened the season at Triple-A Syracuse. In nine games, he is hitting .400 with five homers, 15 RBIs, seven walks and nine strikeouts.

Baty, a third baseman, is the No. 2 prospect in the Mets' system and No. 20 overall, per ESPN's Kiley McDaniel.

Eduardo Escobar, who has started 13 of the Mets' 16 games at third base, has scuffled at the plate, hitting .125 with one homer and six RBIs.

Baty, 23, also has been working in the outfield and could plug in at designated hitter, too.

The Mets selected him with the 12th pick of the first round of the 2019 MLB draft after his senior season at Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, where he hit .615 with a nation-leading 19 home runs and 50 RBIs that year.

He made his major league debut last Aug. 17 and appeared in 11 games with the Mets, hitting .184 with two homers and five RBIs in 11 games. His season ended that month when he underwent right thumb surgery to repair a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament.

Reuters contributed to this report.