Reese Kaplan -- The AAAA Train is Chugging Slowly for the Mets

Right now watching the Mets is an exercise in you never know what you're going to get.  There are days when unexpected pitchers make first rate starts and you begin to think that maybe this team wasn't totally dismantled at the trading deadline.  There are other days when some of the seemingly asleep batters have awakened with a vengeance to wreak havoc with a wooden stick.  Then there are other days when they play with the intensity of a butterfly, flitting about, landing occasionally but not making much of an impression when they do.  

During this unpredictable final two months of the season there have been quite a number of innings played by gentlemen no one would have predicted back in Port St. Lucie's spring training would even make the team, let alone starting on it.  Pleasant surprises happen every now and then, but so too do new found flubs.  Some of the names on the offensive side of the ledger are vaguely familiar from stints playing for other clubs ehile others are pretty much unknown.  Let's take a look at how a few of them are doing.

D.J. Stewart

The burly power hitting Stewart is too old at age 29 turning 30 that he could be called a prospect.  A long time part timer with the Baltimore Orioles he made his way into the Mets organization this year as minor league filler but has found himself playing far more often than anyone would have anticipated.  Over his career which in the majors began back in 2018, he's logged 585 ABs or the equivalent of about a single full season.  During that stretch he has clubbed 31 HRs and driven in 83, pretty impressive numbers.  

Then you scroll over to look at the batting average and it becomes clear why he's never made it as a regular -- just .214.  This season for the Mets he has been a tad better at .224, but it's probably best to think of him as a paunchy Dave Kingman.  It's going over the wall or there will be a great breeze from the swing and miss.  

Danny Mendick

Infielder (and very poor substitute pitcher) Mendick on paper looked like a more likely promotion from Syracuse.  Starting a year later than Stewart, he's aggregated under 500 ABs during his limited pro career.  He has shown modest power with 11 home runs and just 43 RBIs while swiping just a single base.  

His batting average of .243 is not great but acceptable for someone who might be in a reserve role.  Unfortunately for the Mets he's been sub-Mendoza all year and he may not be invited back next year unless they trade away Luis Guillorme.

Tim Locastro

Occasionally a player has an outstanding tool and for Locastro that has been speed.  He has been in and out of the major leagues since debuting back in 2017, not showing much power nor run production.  His batting average has been insubstantial but in 492 ABs he has swiped 43 bases.  As a spare outfielder and pinch runner that number is appealing but counting on him to do damage with his bat is a slim bet at best.

Rafael Ortega

Ortega debuted for the Rockies way back in 2012 and has floated from there to the Angels, Marlins, Braves and Cubs before making his way onto the Syracuse Mets roster.  He has a little bit of power and a little bit of speed.  His batting average in the .250 range is average at best and entering his mid 30s he's looked a bit better lately but he isn't the type of player around whom you bank on the future.  

Abraham Almonte

Another familiar face from his trials with several other teams, the now rather portly Almonte has bounced back and forth between AAA and the majors, not distinguishing himself very much.  Also in his mid 30s, he was brought in as veteran filler material and towards that end it's not been a bad signing.  The most he's ever turned in was a season with 232 ABs many years ago, but for the most part he's a fringe player with modest power and formerly some speed.  If he was DFAd it is unlikely anyone outside the Almonte household would shed a tear.  

We all knew when the housecleaning and injuries took place there would be some under-the-radar folks assigned to the roster but aside from some power from Stewart they've all performed about as expected which is not very good.  Here's hoping that the minor league organization improves as discussed ad nauseum.