Reese Kaplan -- First Rounders Running on Fumes

How does a person go from number one prospect status to mere afterthought over the course of 4-5 years?  It happens to every organization now and then but it seemed to happen to the Mets more often than to other ballclubs.

Going back to my namesake Reese Havens, the Mets have not had a great deal of success out of their number one draft picks.  We all know about the Alex Escobar and Fernando Martinez promises of success. 

More recently we have seen the same happen with Gavin Cecchini and Dominic Smith, both of whom seemed poised for their big break only to have injuries creep up at the worst possible moments.  Smith is still just 1 full year removed from a .330 season in AAA and a combined 25 HRs and 101 RBIs between Las Vegas and New York.  The story is well known by now – first base being his to lose despite the looming presence of former All Star Adrian Gonzalez.  He overslept, was penalized a starting assignment for having done so, and then quickly succumbing to injury which assured the over-the-hill slugger most recently of Atlanta was going to be the Opening Day 1^st baseman.

Gavin Cecchini’s season started off well after a stretch of two of the past three years well over the .300 mark in AA and AA.  Sandwiched in between was a lackluster .267 which may in part had to do with him losing focus when not given opportunities to play under Mickey Callaway’s youth-prejudiced predecessor.  Through his first 30 games in 2018 he was hitting a solid .294 before fouling a ball off his foot.  It’s the kind of injury you figure might require a week or two to rest and rehab before returning to a full time starting assignment.  Unfortunately, that signaled the end of the season for Mr. Cecchini.

Oddly, both may find themselves in the mix as the roster is being put together for 2019 as Luis Guillorme has not acquitted himself particularly well in his trials in the big leagues (under the watchful eye of Mickey Callaway).  The club is bereft of outfielders and there are no healthy infielders on the roster without a spot except Jeff McNeil (but that’s another rant for another day). 

Now Gavin Cecchini is never going to be mistaken for Mark Belanger with his glove nor thus far is Dominic Smith going to be mistaken for Keith Hernandez or John Olerud with his bat.  At this point there’s nothing to be lost by giving them the first shots at bench roles as there’s little to be gained playing them again in AAA and there’s no guarantee that Travis d’Arnaud or TJ Rivera will be healthy enough to start the season.    

It’s still early in the off-season and there’s a lot of time between now and when Spring Training begins.  While many are focusing on the bullpen composition, the starting outfield and the ability to palm off the bad contracts on other clubs in trades, there is still something to be said for small moves being a necessary part of rebuilding the team.