New York Mets first baseman options for Opening Day 2019 currently

SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 03: AFL East All-Star, Peter Alonso #20 of the New York Mets is introduced before the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 03: AFL East All-Star, Peter Alonso #20 of the New York Mets is introduced before the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
Mets
Mets /

T.J. Rivera

The somewhat forgotten Met infielder going into next season, the right-handed hitter Rivera first came onto the scene in late 2016, batting .333 with a .345 OBP in his debut season.

Additionally, due to injuries of various other players, Rivera was the starting second baseman for the 2016 Wild Card Game against the San Francisco Giants, where he recorded a double off of Madison Bumgarner.

In 2017, Rivera made the opening day roster and continued to produce. In 73 games for the Mets, he batted .290 with a .330 OBP, along with 5 home runs and 27 RBI as a part-time player. Additionally, Rivera displayed get versatility as a fielder in 2017, logging inning playing first base, second base, third base and a few games in left field.

His season was unfortunately cut short in July of that season, when he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and underwent Tommy John Surgery, requiring him to miss the rest of the 2017 season, as well as the entirety of 2018, except for a few minor league rehab games.

Rivera is expected to make his return to the Mets in this upcoming Spring Training and will likely compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster, most likely for depth and as a bench player.

Rivera has been known as a high average hitter throughout his career, and if healthy, there is a very real possibility that he outhits the other players I previously listed. If that is the case, Mickey Callaway may look to go with the hot hand and give Rivera the opening day nod.

While he is clearly the dark horse in the competition for starting first baseman, if he’s healthy and performs the way he had Pre-Tommy John Surgery, then Rivera at the very least should be considered for the starting spot, giving the Mets an extra option at what has been considered to be a black hole in the line up for the past few years.

Top five first basemen in Mets history. Next

Want your voice heard? Join the Rising Apple team!

Write for us!

Much like the Abbott and Costello bit, the answer to “Who’s on First?” is not yet clear.

facebooktwitterreddit