NY Mets: Three early surprises from the 2020 season so far

Through the first week and change of the 2020 MLB season, the New York Mets have already given us some pleasant and not-so-great surprises.

At the time I’m writing this, the New York Mets have played nine games. They’ve gone 3-6 and have already given us some heartbreaking losses.

The year 2020 has more than enough surprises in the sports and non-sports world. Many haven’t been very good at all. The one positive is that baseball is back—at least for now.

Through the first nine games of the season, the Mets have done a good job surprising us both positively and negatively. I’d like to try to narrow it down to three of the biggest in this shortened sample size.

Robinson Cano is the hottest bat in the lineup

Did anyone expect after 9 games that Robinson Cano would be one of the most trusted bats in the New Mets lineup? He’s not leading the team in home runs, RBI, or runs scored but he’s putting the bat on the ball and finding ways to get on base.

In those first 32 trips to the plate he made in 2020, the veteran second baseman is slashing .393/.438/.571. Those three numbers lead all of the regulars in what might be the biggest surprise of all in 2020.

Even the most optimistic fans couldn’t have predicted how well Cano would start the year.

One of his best attributes thus far in 2020 has been the ability to avoid strikeouts. He has fanned just three times which is the second-fewest among the regulars.

I understand nine games is hardly a full season. Still, I don’t know if Mets fans have ever seen him go through a stretch this strong. He’s one of the most trusted bats in the lineup right now making all of our old “he’s a bum” takes look a little dated.

Andres Gimenez was more than big league ready

Let’s end this on a positive note. Andres Gimenez is playing in nearly every game for the Mets this year, often coming in late as a defensive replacement. He is also cycling through the infield and starting a few games, taking over on a role I thought belonged to Luis Guillorme.

Gimenez hasn’t experienced those rookie jitters just yet. In 13 plate appearances, he’s slashing .308/.308/.462 with his first career triple and stolen base out of the way.

With rookies, one number I often look at is the strikeout totals. Gimenez has fanned once which is a positive early sign. He’s not a home run hitter and will benefit most from being able to put the ball in play. He has done that and more all the while showing he belongs in the big leagues.

Gimenez may not be quite ready to start every day. That’s not a concern because there really isn’t anywhere for him to fit in. Cano is hitting and it’s far too soon to give him regular at-bats Amed Rosario would otherwise receive.

It’s looking like the Mets will deploy Gimenez as a super-utility infielder whose primary purpose will be to supply them with some more stable defense. I suspect we’ll also watch him get some pinch-running opportunities. If he continues to hit, he may even become an option in that role.

I wrongfully believed this year wouldn’t include many, if any, Mets rookies on the roster. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Gimenez is playing regularly, David Peterson is in the rotation, and even Franklyn Kilome has made his MLB debut.

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The 2020 season will continue to give us surprises—good and bad. One thing I’m not surprised about is how Jacob deGrom’s starts ended with a no-decision.