Mets' Ronny Mauricio makes most of opportunity with first walk-off of career: 'I’m glad he got the job done today'
Taking his first at-bat of the 2026 season, Ronny Mauricio delivered on the opportunity by handing the Mets a 4-3 win over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
At this point in his career, Ronny Mauricio was supposed to be a bigger part of the Mets ' plans. The talented youngster had five-tool potential coming up through the system, but injuries and ineffective at-bats when given a chance led to Mauricio starting the 2026 season down in Triple-A. It's not uncommon for an organization to want to give young prospects every day at-bats, especially when there's no lane on the big league club.
But a Juan Soto IL stint has thrust Mauricio back onto the Mets roster and he made the most of his opportunity on Tuesday. With the score tied at 3 in the 10th inning, Mauricio pinch-hit for Tyrone Taylor with Francisco Lindor on third base and one out. Mauricio got behind 0-2 to Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald , but the switch-hitter got a fastball he could handle up in the zone and laced a single into right field to deliver the Mets their fourth straight win.
"Baseball. It’s crazy, right? " manager Carlos Mendoza said of the moment.
Crazy considering how just hours before first pitch, the Mets skipper laid out Mauricio's role on the team while Soto recovers from his calf strain. He doesn't anticipate Mauricio starting games, instead being used like he was on Tuesday. A versatile, left-handed bat off the bench and Mauricio provided just that.