Starts coming for ‘developing’ Smith
Dominic Smith is almost forgotten, but not gone.
The second-year first baseman/ outfielder remains buried on the Mets’ bench. Wilmer Flores and Jose Bautista continue to receive regular at-bats, but manager Mickey Callaway suggested Saturday that Smith will get opportunities to start over the next week.
Smith, who has a .218/.246/.400 slash line, started at first base in Toronto on Tuesday and Wednesday with Flores shifted to DH, but has since returned to the bench.
“It is tough when you don’t get a ton of at-bats,” Callaway said before the Mets lost 3-0 to the Rays at Citi Field.
“I think this next week or so [Smith] is going to get plenty of starts and plenty of at-bats and then we’ll have to reevaluate where we are after the All-Star break and see if we are in a spot where he is going to continue to get enough at-bats for it to make sense, because he is still developing.”
Flores, whom the Mets are possibly showcasing for a trade, is among the team’s hot hitters: He is 19-for-54 (.352) with 10 RBIs since June 22. after going 3-for-4 as the first baseman against the Rays on Saturday.
Bautista also has produced, with a .218/.379/.436 slash line in 40 games since joining the Mets, entering play. As a result, Smith has been largely squeezed out.
“I really like Dom’s swing,” Calla- way said. “I like his approach — he’s a young kid, he just turned 23 — so he is definitely still developing.”
Yoenis Cespedes is continuing his workouts in Port St. Lucie, but has not yet begun running bases, an important step in his return from a hip flexor/quadriceps injury. Cespedes, who has been on the disabled list since May 16, has been running in a straight line, according to Callaway.
Noah Syndergaard remains on schedule to pitch Sunday at Single-A Brooklyn, against Staten Island, in his first rehab start since going on the disabled list May 26 with a strained ligament in his right index finger.
Amed Rosario flubbed a grounder in the fifth inning with the infield drawn in that brought home Tampa Bay’s first run, but Callaway commended the shortstop for having the presence of mind to get the out at first base.
“He looked up just to see where the runner was and [the ball] hit off his heel,” Callaway said. “Good job in recovering to get the out at first.”
Asdrubal Cabrera’s 49 RBIs are the second-highest total of his career before the All-Star break. The veteran infielder had 51 RBIs for the Indians before the All-Star break in 2011.