Mets promote Darrell Ceciliani from Triple-A Las Vegas

Darrell Ceciliani has been promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas and will be activated prior to Tuesday’s game against the Cardinals, the Mets announced. 

Ceciliani, 24, was hitting .336/.381/.584 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 126 plate appearances for Las Vegas.

Drafted by the Mets in the fourth round of the 2009 draft, Ceciliani is a lefty-hitting outfielder who is viewed as an above average defender in the outfield.

Here’s the overall take on Ceciliani from Baseball Prospectus:

"Lacks flash in the game; most tools are solid; can hit the ball and will hit some at the highest level; power isn’t a significant factor; speed can play toward the top of a lineup; glove will carry him to MLB and hit tool will give him a chance to stick; potential up-the-middle player with batting average driven offensive profile; won’t be a key cog on an MLB team but can be a quality role player."

The Mets have yet to announce a corresponding move.

Thoughts:

While the Mets haven’t yet said who will be dropped from the roster to make room for Ceciliani, the assumption from most is that it will be Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who is 3-for-38 so far this season with 17 strikeouts.

Nieuwenhuis is out of options, meaning he would have to pass through waivers in order for the Mets to send him to Las Vegas.

Another possibility for demotion is Johnny Monell, though that would be a bit surprising since he has gotten a few starts lately and was brought up to offer some punch off the bench. However, if the Mets wanted to give some more rope to Nieuwenhuis — and guarantee not losing him — while also getting Ceciliani up here, optioning Monell could be the way to go.

Either way, Ceciliani should now be the primary lefty outfielder off the bench, and is someone who should serve as a late-inning replacement for either Curtis Granderson or Michael Cuddyer in close games.