Reese Kaplan -- Unexpected Key Cogs to Mets 2024 Turnaround

A lot of things were going wrong for the Mets early in the season and by mid June it appeared as if it was a repeat of 2023’s outcome.  Then magic happened and all of the sudden the club is tied with San Diego for one of the wildcard slots in October.  A lot of credit can go to obvious talents like Francisco Lindor and enough time has been spent suggesting some others who have been good in the past were not quite delivering at the same level in 2024. 

However, a new question arises as to who has turned in a surprising season that has helped make the Mets’ ability to win some ballgames.  When the squad opened in April there were a lot of question marks and players whose abilities were highly questionable.  In some cases people simply performed better than expected and in others new players became a part of the big club who were not anticipated to be cogs when the year began.  People look at the results with awe and great surprise:

As has often been asserted about the decision to sign Harrison Bader, yes, the Mets needed better outfield defense and also had to do whatever they could to keep cleanup hitter Pete Alonso happy (including bringing his childhood friend onto the roster).  The problems with Bader have always been staying healthy and hitting with authority.  This year he’s done the first one while missing very little time but the surprising part has been his 22 point increment above his career batting average.  Many might want to see the Mets bring him back when his one-year contract ends.

After a surprisingly competent stint mostly as a spot starter in 2023 Jose Butto found himself on the outside looking in based upon the more veteran young pitchers Tylor Megill and David Peterson.  He did not make the roster when the year began and was not brought up to cover for other injured pitchers.  Instead he was thrust into a relief pitcher role which is something he hasn’t really done before in the minors nor the majors.  Shockingly he is boasting a 2.38 ERA with a WHIP under 1.00.  The team would surely have collapsed in July if not for his reinvention as a middle reliever.

The oft-injured Sean Reid-Foley is once again on the IL, but you can’t argue what his value was to the team while his rehab is currently taking place.  Over his 23 relief appearances whle he was walking a few too many, he went on the shelf with a 1.66 ERA.  Probably no one including his own family would have foreseen that stellar level of production.  The team is anxiously awaiting his return.

What can you say about currently injured Dedniel Nunez?  No one had him high on the prospect list and he was promoted more out of desperation than forecasting his major league success given his minor league middle-of-the-pack numbers.  What he did on the field over 24 appearances is delivering a 2.43 ERA, a WHIP of just 0.93 and averaging over 12 Ks per 9 IP.  They need him back in the worst way.

The powers that be felt Brett Baty was the long term answer at 3B.  Then they were forced to give Mark Vientos a chance when Baty wasn’t getting it done.  How has Vientos performed?  He’s leading the team in OPS, SLG, has hit 16 HRs to tie with Brandon Nimmo in 160 fewer at bats...even his defense while not threatening for Gold Glove recognition has certainly seemed improved.  Oh yeah, he’s hitting over .280, too.

Another newcomer mid season was veteran Jose Iglesias who is leading the team in batting average, playing his usual solid defensive game around the infield and in a way helped mitigate the long term loss of Starling Marte by allowing Jeff McNeil to play RF and the .333 hitting Iglesias to play more regularly.

When Tomas Nido was struggling and Francisco Alvarez was injured the Mets knew they needed help behind the plate.  Omar Narvaez never got on track so they turned to Yankee farmhand Luis Torrens to take on the second catching role.  All he’s done is turn in a .304 batting average while playing solid defense.  No one expected that kind of output when he was signed.

Surely, there are others who have had some hot streaks here and there both on offense and from the pitching mound, but where in the world would the Mets be in the 2024 season without these eight great and unexpected performances?