What’s Next for Travis d’Arnaud?

UPDATE – 11:15 PM:

According to Lynn Worthy of the Press Sun-Bulletin, Travis d’Arnaud was informed after tonight’s game in Binghamton that he’ll be heading to AAA Las Vegas.

d’Arnaud, 24, is expected to be called up to replace John Buck in the event he leaves for paternity leave.  With the Mets starting an 11 game road trip tomorrow night, and with d’Arnaud inching his way closer to the majors, moving his rehab to Las Vegas makes perfect sense.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

Mets catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud, who has been playing in rehab games since being cleared to go full throttle on his healed foot, is still with AA Binghamton.  About a week ago, it was reported that d’Arnaud would be called up to take John Buck‘s roster spot when Buck’s wife went into labor (with Buck going on a 3 day paternity leave).

Mar 24 2013; Jupiter, FL, USA; New York Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud

The week has passed, and Buck’s wife is overdue.  d’Arnaud, whose rehab recently moved to Binghamton from the GCL in Florida, had been a short ride away from the Mets.  With the team leaving for an 11 game road trip through Arizona, California, and Minnesota, d’Arnaud is no longer close should Buck’s wife go into labor (precipitating a roster move that brings d’Arnaud to the Mets).

With the Mets in the air en route to Arizona, d’Arnaud is still in Binghamton, catching tonight and hitting 3rd.  If the Mets still intend on using d’Arnaud to fill in for Buck when the need arises, it would make sense for tonight’s game to be his last with Binghamton.

The Mets could fly him out to join AAA Las Vegas after tonight’s game, bringing him both a level closer to the big leagues and many hours closer to the Mets.

It’s been reported over and over that d’Arnaud’s true debut (not counting his potential cameo if/when Buck goes on paternity leave) won’t be until September.  However, there’s no reason for him to have to wait that long.  He was viewed as major league ready during the middle of last season, and has recovered fully from the broken foot that he suffered in the middle of April.

Additionally, the Mets aren’t in a Pennant race and d’Arnaud needs reps at the major league level before his expected first full season in 2014.

In order for d’Arnaud to come up to stay before September, someone will have to (perhaps only temporarily) lose their spot on the 25-man roster.  That’s unfortunate for whoever it turns out to be, but getting d’Arnaud acclimated to the bigs is far more important than hurt feelings.

For now, d’Arnaud remains with Binghamton.  Come tomorrow (or later tonight), he should be cleared to make his next move.

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