Marcus Semien Battles Early Slump as Mets Seek Offensive Breakthrough in 2025 Season

SAN FRANCISCO — Marcus Semien’s first week in a Mets uniform has been anything but smooth. The veteran second baseman, fresh off a blockbuster trade from the Texas Rangers this offseason, entered Thursday night having gone 0-for-20 at the plate, a torrid stretch that followed two hits in his first two at-bats of the season. His struggles have only deepened concerns about the New York Mets’ offensive woes, which have overshadowed an otherwise strong pitching staff and reliable defense as the team navigates the early stages of the 2025 campaign.

• Marcus Semien’s 0-for-20 start to the season has become a focal point for the Mets’ early offensive struggles.
• The Mets’ lineup, despite strong pitching from Clay Holmes and Kodai Senga, has managed just one home run in four games.
• Manager Carlos Mendoza expressed confidence in Semien, emphasizing that the six-game sample size is still too small to draw conclusions.
• Semien’s first three hits of the season were unremarkable, including a ball lost in the sun at Citi Field and a swinging bunt.
• The Mets’ offensive drought has been particularly painful in high-leverage situations, with the team going 1-for-29 with runners in scoring position in early games.

Why Marcus Semien’s Early Struggles Matter for the 2025 Mets

For a New York Mets team that entered the season with high expectations—bolstered by a revamped roster featuring Semien, Francisco Lindor, and Juan Soto—the early offensive struggles have been a glaring red flag. The Mets, who finished 88-74 in 2024, were widely projected to contend for a playoff spot in the National League East this year. However, their inability to generate consistent offense in the season’s first week has raised questions about their offensive depth and adaptability. Semien, a three-time All-Star and 2021 Gold Glove winner, was acquired in a blockbuster trade last November in exchange for outfielder Brandon Nimmo, a deal intended to solidify the middle of the lineup. Instead, his slow start has become a microcosm of the team’s broader offensive malaise.

From Texas to Queens: Semien’s Journey to the Mets

Marcus Semien’s path to the Mets was anything but linear. After six seasons with the Oakland Athletics, where he established himself as a premier shortstop, Semien signed a seven-year, $175 million contract with the Texas Rangers in 2022. His tenure in Arlington was marked by both offensive firepower—he hit 35 home runs in 2023—and defensive excellence, earning his first Gold Glove in 2022. However, the Rangers’ decision to move him to second base in 2024, coupled with the emergence of younger infielders like Ezequiel Duran, led to a trade to New York this offseason. The Mets, seeking to address their offensive deficiencies, sent Nimmo to Texas in exchange for Semien, a swap that was intended to provide stability up the middle and a boost to the lineup’s middle-of-the-order production.

Semien’s transition to second base has been seamless from a defensive standpoint, but his offensive struggles have been a surprise. Last season, he posted a .230/.305/.364 slash line with 15 homers and 62 RBIs in 127 games, numbers that, while not All-Star-caliber, were still serviceable for a middle infielder. This year, however, the early returns have been disastrous. His .100 batting average through six games is the lowest of any qualified hitter in baseball at this point in the season, and his 0-for-20 streak has drawn comparisons to some of the most infamous slumps in recent MLB history.

The Broader Offensive Struggles Plaguing the Mets

Semien’s slump is just one piece of a larger offensive puzzle for the Mets. Entering play Thursday, the team had managed just one home run in four games, a staggering figure for a lineup that includes Lindor, Soto, and Pete Alonso. The lack of power has been particularly glaring in high-leverage situations, with the Mets going 1-for-29 with runners in scoring position in their first three games of a road trip to St. Louis. Francisco Lindor, a two-time All-Star and the team’s highest-paid player at $34.1 million annually, has also struggled, batting just .143. Meanwhile, Bo Bichette, acquired in a midseason trade from Toronto, has managed a paltry .111 average. The only silver lining has been Soto, who has continued his on-base prowess from 2024, though even he has been limited to just one home run in the early going.

Pitching and Defense: The Bright Spots in an Otherwise Grim Start

Amid the offensive struggles, the Mets’ pitching staff has been a beacon of consistency. Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga, and Freddy Peralta have combined to deliver strong starts in the team’s first three games, allowing just five runs in 18 innings. Holmes, in particular, has been dominant, striking out 10 batters in his season debut and showcasing the bullpen’s depth that president of baseball operations David Stearns emphasized during the offseason. The Mets’ defense, too, has been reliable, with few miscues marring the early action. The most glaring defensive error came from Lindor on Wednesday, when he forgot the number of outs and nearly turned a double play into a single run allowed. However, the Cardinals still managed to score zero runs in the inning, a testament to the team’s defensive resilience.

Defensively, everybody’s worked extremely hard to be the best we can be for our great pitching staff. We’re a complete team. Once we have a big breakout game, everybody is going to get the confidence.

Manager Carlos Mendoza’s Unwavering Confidence in Semien

Despite the early struggles, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has remained steadfast in his support for Semien. Mendoza, who took over as skipper in 2023, has built a reputation for his player-first approach and patience with struggling hitters. In a press conference before Thursday’s game, Mendoza downplayed the significance of Semien’s slump, noting that six games is an insufficient sample size to draw conclusions. “I feel good with him at the plate,” Mendoza said. “It’s just six games. I am not worried about him.” Mendoza’s confidence is rooted in Semien’s track record of success, which includes a .250/.324/.430 career slash line and a reputation as one of the game’s most clutch performers. The manager’s optimism is shared by Semien himself, who has repeatedly insisted there’s “no panic” in his approach.

It’s taking some time so far, but definitely no panic in me.

The Road Ahead: Can the Mets Break Out of Their Offensive Drought?

The Mets’ offensive struggles have been a point of concern for fans and analysts alike, but there are reasons to believe the team can right the ship. For one, Semien’s track record suggests that his early struggles are likely to be temporary. Over his 11-year career, he has posted a .250 batting average or better in seven seasons, including a .261 mark in 2023. Similarly, Lindor and Bichette are both proven hitters who have struggled in small sample sizes before. The team’s pitching staff, meanwhile, has been a constant, with Senga and Peralta providing a steady rotation of strong starts. The Mets also have a history of turning around slow starts, having won 11 of their final 14 games in 2024 after a sluggish April.

The early schedule has been particularly challenging, with matchups against the Giants and Cardinals—two teams with formidable pitching staffs—framing the first week of the season. However, the Mets will have opportunities to rebound against softer competition, including a three-game series against the rebuilding Miami Marlins later this month. For Semien, a single big performance could be the spark the lineup needs to regain its footing. As he noted in his pregame remarks, “Only six games in, one big performance would change everything.” If the Mets are to live up to their preseason expectations, they’ll need their veteran second baseman—and the rest of the lineup—to deliver soon.

The Bigger Picture: What This Means for the Mets’ Playoff Hopes

The Mets’ early offensive struggles come at a critical juncture for the franchise. After years of rebuilding under former general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, the team appeared to be on the cusp of contention in 2024, finishing just three games out of a wild-card spot. The additions of Semien, Bichette, and reliever Craig Kimbrel this offseason were intended to push the team over the top. However, the slow start has raised questions about whether the Mets have the offensive firepower to compete in a deep National League. The team’s ability to generate runs will be put to the test in the coming weeks, with a stretch of games against the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies looming. If the Mets fail to improve their offensive production, their playoff hopes could quickly evaporate—regardless of how strong their pitching and defense remain.