Trying for patience
Rosario eyes restraint, especially at the plate
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — For several years after the Mets signed him as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic, Amed Rosario was viewed as the next big thing for the organization. Here was a can’t-miss guy.
“It’s a blessing to be that person, somebody the organization has faith in, your teammates look at and say, ‘This guy is going to be real good,’ ” said teammate Michael Conforto, who heard and lived through much of the same. “But it comes with a lot surrounding it, a lot of expectation.”
So when Rosario jumped to the majors last season, people expected much. Maybe too much. The shortstop did not blow everyone away, but showed enough to encourage: a .248 average with four homers in 46 games. And that was while showing the patience of a caffeinated f irst-grader: three walks in 165 at-bats. With more work, the noise might not seem so farfetched.
“He j us t shows you he wants to be better and wants to work within the team. When you have a kid like that, young, talented, comes to play hard every day and do what’s best for the team, you feel proud about it,” veteran Asdrubal Cabrera said. “He knows how to play. He comes to learn. He’s not afraid to ask people what he has to do to get better.”
The area of needed improvement Rosario hears about most is “patience.” In 30 at-bats through 12 spring training games, Rosario, 22, is hitting .265 with one homer, three doubles. And one walk. “My strike zone,” Rosario said, pinpointing his work area. “Last year my strike zone was way too big. So I tried to put in a small one. Last year I was swinging at too many pitches out through the zone. This year I want to stay with my plan, only swing at good pitches.”
Patience is also a watchword for manager Mickey Callaway. He knows Rosario won’t change overnight.
“He’s going to chase at times, but he’s done a good job trying not to. He’s getting better at that. We can’t expect him to all of a sudden be a different player. He’s maturing. He’ll get a lot better. He’s doing the little things right,” Callaway said, noting Rosario’s spring, “has been impressive.”
So prepare the checklist: Show patience, drown out the noise, stay healthy.
“I’m not trying to put any pressure on myself. This spring has been pretty good. I’m working hard, feeling great, feeling healthy,” Rosario said, emphasizing the health after he lost eight games to injury and illness following his Aug. 1 callup. “I hope I stay healthy during the season then I think I can show the people that I can play.” He already has. “He’s working on patience. He’s such a natural hitter, such a talented hand-eye guy he was good enough to get away with it at the lower levels. It’s a blessing and a curse to be that good,” Conforto said.
“I see the work he put sin everyday ,” mentor Jose Reyes said. “When you’re a young player, you’ve got to work on everything. When you’ re young, you can be a little too aggressive at home plate. When I came up, I was the same, too aggressive. Patience is key. He’s going to get it.”