Why? Because he has performed, that's why.
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| PC - Ernest Dove |
In early 2017, he broke a hand again. Ugh!
He then sputtered, rusty, upon his return - until June 19, 2017, that is.
On June 19, coming into the game hitting just .160 in High A ball, he went 2 for 3 with a homer in the second game of a double header.
From that game on in 2017, he hit .301 in 292 at bats, with 16 homers and 57 RBIs.
Hmmm....
Going into 2018, he had just 462 pro at bats, a limited number which for almost any minor leaguer means don't expect a lot at AA and AAA, at least right away.
Instead, in 159 games in AA, AAA, and Arizona Fall League ball, he had 42 HRs and 146 RBIs.
Hmmm....
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| PC - Ed Delany |
Adding up to a really utterly remarkable 2018.
Now, in spring training 2019 and in the MLB season's first 12 games, a total of 116 at bats, he is hitting .362, with 11 doubles, a triple, 10 homers, 28 RBIs.
All that after slightly more than 1,000 pro at bats in injuries-shortened short season 2016 and 2017, and his great 2018.
That leads me to not ask, will he be good? Shouldn't we be cautious?
It leads me to instead ask, why shouldn't we already expect him to be GREAT?
3 comments:
Thomas -
On a different subject.
Last night was another SP5 nightmare.
You know what a big fan I am about this team this year. Yes, there are issues that have to be tweaked, but this team is so much better than the one that went 11-1 last season out of the box.
They can't keep ignoring the need for a new SP5. Vargas is a failure here and Oswalt proves once more he should be concerted to a reliever (or left in AAA ball).
I want Lugo there by the next rotation.
Lugo yes - and hopefully, someone in AAA can step up in the pen, then.
I'd prefer Keuchel and leaving Lugo in the pen.
Vargas out, Keuchel in solves two problems:
Rotation gets better - maybe a lot better.
Starter average outing length increases, needing less pen, and mostly covering it with Diaz, Familia, Lugo, Wilson and Gsellman.
That means the dregs (back end) of the pen only shows up when it should - when the Mets are substantially trailing.
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