Mets recall highly touted prospect Baty, place Locastro on IL

The New York Mets recalled highly touted third base prospect Brett Baty from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, the team announced.

Baty is starting at third base and hitting eighth for the Mets in Monday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

The 23-year-old is considered the No. 2 farmhand in the Mets' system, according to MLB Pipeline, behind only catcher Francisco Alvarez. Alvarez was called up earlier this season with Omar Narvaez hitting the injured list. Baty is also considered the 19th overall prospect in MLB's top 100 and the No. 1 player at the hot corner, per Pipeline.

Baty, who can also play the outfield, made his MLB debut last year, playing 11 games for the Mets in August. The former 12th overall pick went 7-for-38 with two homers and five RBIs.

He impressed in spring training this year, hitting .325/.460/.425 with one homer and six RBIs over 23 contests but didn't break camp with the team. Opening the year in Syracuse, he hit five homers with 15 RBIs over nine games.

Eduardo Escobar, the team's primary starting third baseman this season, has struggled early on, hitting .114/.167/.227 with one homer in 13 games.

"The kid deserves it," Escobar said Sunday, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. "He deserves everything he is getting right now."

In addition to adding Baty, the Mets also recalled right-hander Edwin Uceta from Syracuse in time for Monday's game. The team placed outfielder Tim Locastro on the 10-day injured list due to back spasms and optioned pitcher Jose Butto to Triple-A in corresponding roster moves.