Mark Vientos appeared out of nowhere to become a standout player in the Mets’ magical season and a star in a postseason with low expectations and a great comeback. It has been an incredible September and October for the club that reflects his young career. Vientos went from a peripheral position in the Mets’ plans to a primary position, from a castoff player to a key figure in their hero system. He remains reasonably hopeful, even when the Mets target him for the trade block or Triple-A Syracuse, or regularly tell him he’s still behind Brett Baty.

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J.D. Martinez, his occasional hitting partner in Miami, is a rare believer in Vientos. Martinez, whose surprise spring signing ironically pushed Vientos back into the lower league, is solid proof that you can carve out an exceptional career if you can manage it. Vientos, still only 24, isn’t exactly from the mean streets of Miami, having attended the expensive, posh American Heritage School in Plantation, which produced Eric Hosmer and other great players. But you could see that desire, even as they continued to send him to Syracuse. He never gave up and always believed.

Martinez saw not only belief but also skill in their batting sessions together at Nova Southeastern University. And now the whole country is seeing it too. In October, he led baseball in hits and RBI. Vientos has six multi-hit games in the first nine postseason games of his career. The only player with more in MLB history is Ken Griffey Jr. s. Late in the game when they were leading, he was still replaced on defense by Jose Iglesias, a player from South Florida, the second surprise of the season.