Former NY Mets player obliterating balls in spring training shouldn’t surprise anyone

How are those former New York Mets doing this spring? A mostly inconsequential search of results brings us to one of the least surprising of all.

In a bloodletting against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, Tomas Nido participated with this big blast that looked like someone's uncle hacking at a Wiffle ball in the backyard to take the lead before the clouds open up.

This wasn’t just a one-off smack by Nido. He has been tremendous for the Detroit Tigers this spring, hammering a pair of doubles and home runs to go with his 7 RBI. A boastful .375/.412/.875 slash line thus far, it’s business as usual for this light-hitting catcher who always seems to put up impressive numbers in spring training.

Don’t be fooled Tigers fans, this is what Tomas Nido did plenty for the Mets in the preseason

If what Nido did in spring training ever carried over into the regular season, the Mets would have traded Francisco Alvarez before he even reached the majors. Although he struggled last spring by hitting only .211, previous exhibition action had Nido looking more like Mike Piazza than his true self.

In 2023, Nido slashed .359/.375/.667 with 3 doubles and 3 dingers each. Coming off of a 2022 campaign where he took over the majority of the innings at the catching position, it looked promising that maybe he could help the Mets move along the season until Alvarez was ready. Later DFA’d when he was hitting below his weight, we were all fools for believing the hot spring was realistic at all.

A year prior in 2022, Nido put together a similar output. Although only a double and a home run accounted for his lone extra-base hits, Nido batted .417/.440/.583.

Some struggles did arise in several spring training tours, but even if we go back to 2018 before he made his MLB debut we find a guy who knew how to handle himself in Florida. Nido batted .300/.364/.500 with a home run and 7 RBI in what was an early yet false introduction to Mets fans.

Although there were moments, Nido ended his tenure with New York batting .214/.251/.313. Competent would be the politest way to describe his offensive abilities in his best stretch from 2020-2022. He’ll occasionally pop one over the wall, much like the one he had on Wednesday. But Tigers fans unfamiliar with him needn’t be fooled into thinking this will be a regular thing if/when he actually plays for the big league club.