Marcus Semien's Mets Chapter Looks Like It's Closing
The calendar may say mid-September, but for Marcus Semien, the existential questions about his baseball future are arriving early. With the New York Mets officially eliminated from playoff contention and just 10 games left in the regular season, the Cal alumnus finds himself at the center of a roster squeeze that signals his time in New York could be running out.
The clearest warning sign: Jefferson Rojas' promotion to Triple-A, a move that Sports Illustrated reports could directly spell the end of Semien's role with the organization. When a team starts elevating younger infield options in September, the writing tends to appear on the wall in capital letters.
On the field, Semien has kept his bat alive if not exactly hot. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI on Tuesday against Baltimore, then added another hit Wednesday — but the Mets dropped both games as part of a three-game sweep by the Orioles. By Saturday against Philadelphia, he contributed a hit, two runs scored, and two walks in a 10-3 blowout win, nudging his average to .221. There's activity in the box score, but it hasn't translated into meaningful contributions on a team that has already checked out of October.
The Mets also announced personal news surrounding Semien during the week — the details of which didn't alter the broader narrative surrounding his roster standing heading into the offseason.
Elsewhere in the Cal Alumni Report
Grant Holman had a week to remember — and then immediately tried to forget it. The Cal right-hander was recalled by the Phillies when Jesús Luzardo landed on the 15-day injured list, giving Holman his big-league debut. The outing was rough: Philadelphia dropped a 12-2 decision to Atlanta, with Holman taking the brunt of the damage in his first MLB appearance. His tenure on the active roster was brief — the Phillies optioned him back to Triple-A once Tanner Banks was reinstated from the 60-day IL just days later. Short stay, steep learning curve.
Dylan Beavers continued to hold his own for the Red Sox across a week that included games against the Mets. The Cal outfielder went 2-for-his-appearances on Sunday against Toronto with a pair of hits, a run, and a walk, and put up another solid line Friday against Milwaukee — 1-for-1 with a run and a walk. He's sitting at .237 on the season, a quiet but credible first full year in the majors.
Lucas Erceg returned from a nearly month-long Triple-A stint with the Royals and logged bullpen innings in back-to-back appearances, pitching one inning each against Houston on Wednesday and Pittsburgh on Friday. His ERA sits at 5.96 — not the return-to-form the Royals were hoping for, but he's back in the mix as Kansas City manages the final stretch.
The week underscored a familiar theme for Cal's MLB contingent: veterans navigating uncertain terrain, young arms fighting for footholds, and a baseball autumn arriving faster than any of them would like.
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