The Curious Case of Vidal Bruján: Why He’s a Met and Luisangel Acuña Isn’t

Mets fans, let’s take the blue-and-orange tinted glasses off for a minute.

Vidal Bruján is not the next José Reyes, hell he isn't even the next Pablo Reyes. He’s not a secret All-Star hiding in plain sight. He’s not about to steal 60 bases and force the Mets to install a speed limit at Citi Field.

So who is Vidal Bruján ?

If your reaction to the question, “Is that a new member of the Queens Crew — congratulations, you’re normal. He’s basically baseball’s version of the guy who keeps showing up at family weddings because no one remembers whose cousin he actually is.

And yet… here he is.

Back in the minors, Bruján was the guy who turned routine singles into doubles, walks into mild panic, and close games into cardio workouts for catchers. At his peak, he was swiping 40-plus bags a year and making scouts reach for the plus-sign button on their keyboards.

Speed like that plays. It always has.

Bruján isn’t built to mash. He’s built to irritate pitchers, catchers, infielders, and defensive coordinators who suddenly have to worry about something other than the hitter in the box.

Remember this name. Remember it when a game swings because of a stolen base. Remember it when a late-inning double switch actually works. Remember it when you hear Gary Cohen say, “And Vidal Bruján comes in to run,” and suddenly the crowd wakes up.

Bruján is out of minor league options. That’s not trivia — that’s the whole story.

The Mets cannot quietly send him to Syracuse to “get regular at-bats.” If they try, he has to pass through waivers first. And if he passes through waivers? Someone else can grab him, no questions asked.

As of January 2026, Bruján is viewed league-wide as a utility option — useful, movable, but clearly a .199 hitter is not untouchable. He either breaks camp with a major league team or risks being designated for assignment yet again, something he’s already experienced more than most players his age.

This isn’t about development anymore. This is about survival.

Which brings us to the obvious comparison and question as to why he’s here and Luisangel Acuña Isn’t ?

Bruján is here because Luisangel Acuña isn’t, and the Mets knew exactly what they were doing.

There was no realistic scenario where Acuña would have cleared waivers. Too young. Too toolsy. Too much perceived upside. If the Mets exposed him, he’d be gone before the paperwork cooled and that is the reason the Mets traded him when they did.

Bruján? Different calculus.

It’s far more likely that if the Mets eventually try to sneak Bruján through waivers, he may actually get through. Teams know what he is at this point. A bench piece. A speed-and-defense option. A guy you like — but not one you rearrange your roster to claim unless of course you have Richard (Don't Call Me Dicky) DFA Lovelady on your team.

That’s why the Mets were willing to make this move. They traded the player they absolutely could not risk losing for the one they probably can and they’ll address that problem later if and when it arrives.

That’s roster management, not sentimentality.

Now back to Bruján’s resumé, warts and all...

Bruján’s major-league numbers don’t lie, and they don’t sparkle. A career .199 batting average isn’t going on a billboard, and no one’s penciling him into the heart of the lineup.

But that’s not why he’s here.

He’s here because he can:

Switch-hit

Play both infield and outfield

Run well enough to change a game late

Defend competently without drama

And give the manager options when games get tight

In other words, he’s bench glue. The kind of player managers trust and front offices tolerate — until they don’t need him anymore.

Spring Training, No Net

For Vidal Bruján, spring training isn’t about easing into the season.

It’s an audition.

He doesn’t need to be spectacular. He needs to be useful immediately. He needs to show he can run, cover ground, and not be an automatic out when pressed into action.

Because once the season starts, there’s no safety net. The Mets can’t stash him. They either carry him or risk losing him.

And judging by this move, they’re comfortable with that risk.

This isn’t a long-term plan. It’s a temporary solution to a very specific roster problem.

Bruján is the Acuña replacement for now. If he sticks, great. If he doesn’t, the Mets will address it then somehow, someway, as they always do.

That’s modern baseball. That’s how depth works. And that’s why Vidal Bruján is wearing a Mets uniform today.

No illusions.

No guarantees.

Just one more name to remember at least until you don’t have to anymore.

And if he steals a bag or two along the way?

That’s just a little extra chaos thrown in for free.