Who’s on 1st? Cespedes, and he homers too
The Mets are at least trying to see if Yoenis Cespedes can handle first base.
In a rehab game with the Gulf Coast League Mets Wednesday afternoon, the injured slugger started at first base, which could potentially be the beginning of an effort to save Cespedes’ legs, which have been a constant issue. Cespedes has never previously played first base.
Cespedes went 1-for-4 Wednesday with a three-run homer and had an error-free, eight-putout performance while playing nine innings at first. He’s been out for the last two months with a strained right hip flexor, but he could return as soon as Friday for the Subway Series as the designated hitter at Yankee Stadium.
On Tuesday, Cespedes played seven innings in left field for the GCL Mets and went 1-for-4. He also played a simulated game on Monday.
The 32-year-old, who’s in the second season of a four-year, $110 million deal, missed 81 games last season with leg injuries.
If Cespedes is able to adapt to first base, it could not only potentially help keep him on the field, but it would solve a playing-time conundrum when everyone is healthy. The Mets have had a hole at first base, with veteran Adrian Gonzalez spending a lot of time there before he was released.
Dominic Smith has played 14 games there this year but he hasn’t played much since being called up. Wilmer Flores has appeared in 42 games. Jay Bruce, who is currently out with a hip injury, has played three games at first, as has Kevin Plawecki.
When Mickey Callaway indicated on Saturday that Cespedes could return this weekend as the DH, he said long-term Cespedes would be playing left field.
“We’re gonna get him ready to come back and be our left fielder, so that would be the position that he’s playing,” Callaway said.