5 surprise Mets players who helped the team win during the Francisco Lindor slump

The New York Mets have been on a good streak in recent weeks with an outstanding performance from offense and pitching. Despite having players in an offensive slump, such as Francisco Lindor, the team has managed to stand out. Lindor may have broken through the slump with a big homer against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. Even then, he got help from some of the players on this list.

The Mets have the best bullpen in the league and one of the best ERAs this season. Likewise, the offense has shown flashes of the 2022 level, when they were one of the best offenses in the MLB. Given this situation, players with low expectations have emerged as heroes early in the season.

1) Harrison Bader

The Mets signed Bader to a one-year, $10 million contract, which seemed like a stretch given his recent offensive production. At the time of signing, Bader looked like a defensive outfielder with baserunning ability but no bat against right-handed pitching.

So far this season, Bader has been hitting the ball well regardless of the pitcher. Even against righties, he has a hitting level above the league average, with a slugging rate almost double what he showed last season.

This recent success is due to two aspects of Bader's hitting profile. First of all, his ability to more effectively connect offspeed pitches and fastballs, which he connects with for an expected slugging percentage of around .500.

Another reason for his performance at the beginning of this season is that he has managed to hit pitches with more power. His hard-hit contact and exit velocity is the highest of his career.

If Bader continues to perform at the plate combined with his defense, his contract would end up being a bargain for the team. Without a doubt, David Stearns managed to achieve a necessary profile for the team on both sides of the ball.