Former NY Mets player continues to be an inexpensive utility man after years of hype

Back in 2017, the most talked about player in the New York Mets organization was Amed Rosario. Not only was he the top prospect in their system, but the number one overall prospect in baseball according to several prospect lists. Michael Salfino of the Wall Street Journal went as far as to call him the next Derek Jeter. It seemed like the Mets had developed a superstar.

Unfortunately for the Mets, Rosario never lived up to this hype. Over his four seasons in New York Rosario slashed .268/.302/.403 with 32 home runs, 148 RBIs, an OPS+ of 91, and a wRC+ of 84. Nowhere near the production he had in the minors, or what was expected of him. Many have felt his greatest contribution to the Mets was being part of the package that landed them Fransisco Lindor.

Yet, despite not being the player everyone projected him to be, Rosario still has a role in the Majors. A role that many teams find desirable. Rosario recently landed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals worth $2 million to be their utility man. A role that's become all too familiar for the former top prospect.

This isn't the first time that Rosario has netted himself a one-year contract. Last offseason he signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million from the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays viewed him the same way the Nationals did. A guy that can be a nice utility man but nothing more. A good guy to have off your bench, but not someone you can expect to play 140+ games a year and produce at a high level.

Why Amed Rosario is still valuable to Major League teams

There are several reasons why Rosario's career has gone down this path. For starters, he has become a decent contact hitter. Between the Rays, Dodgers, and Reds last season he had a batting average of .280. Now sure batting average isn't the best way to measure a hitter's performance. However, it does show that Rosario is good at putting the ball in play and reaching safely, a trait you need when getting a limited amount of plate appearances.

His speed and base running ability is something that keeps him in the bigs. According to Baseball Savant, he has a sprint speed in the 91st percentile. One of the highest in all of baseball. He also swiped 13 bags on 18 attempts in 2024. With the rule changes, as well as the revival of base stealing, having a speedster like Rosario on your bench is a luxury. It makes him the prime candidate for pinch-running situations late in ball games.

His speed and athletic ability have allowed him to play all over the diamond. He's no longer viewed solely as a middle infielder. In 2024 he played four different positions. That type of versatility gives teams lots of roster flexibility. They don't have to worry about getting a backup for every position because they know Rosario can handle it.

Although Rosario isn't the superstar everyone was expecting, he's still a valuable piece for any Major League team.