3 most pleasant surprises of the Mets season so far
To call the New York Mets start to the season mediocre would be putting it nicely. Injuries and poor performances have left this $300 million team searching for answers, desperate to put together a string of wins to gain some confidence back.
While its easy to give into the doom and gloom of the rough stretch, the Mets still have plenty of time to turn things around. There will need to be vast improvements across the board, but there are currently some positives to build off of. Despite all of the early season struggles, these three Mets have provided some solid contributions all season that fans can look to for a break from the negativity.
Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez's defense has improved drastically this season
When evaluating whether Francisco Alvarez was ready for the MLB or not, the biggest concern was how he would fare behind the plate. Alvarez's defense was a red flag for many, as he rose through the minor leagues quickly and didn't get nearly enough reps at catcher as the front office wanted. Regardless, when Omar Narvaez got injured, the Mets had no choice but to call up their #1 ranked prospect.
So far, not only has Alvarez been a capable defender, he has actually emerged as one of the leagues best. Statcast ranks him as the fifth best framer across all of baseball, ranking in the 85th percentile in that department. The Mets were fearful that his defense would hurt this subpar starting rotation; instead, he's been essential in helping them get some much needed strikes.
Alvarez is far from a finished product however, as he still needs to improve at throwing out baserunners. He has shown flashes of his strong arm but allowing 19 stolen bases without a single one caught is cause for concern. However, the front office has to be satisfied with his progression on the defensive end so far. Combined with his improvement as a hitter as well, it's safe to say that Francisco Alvarez's time in the minor leagues is over.
Mets pitcher David Robertson has established himself as one of the best closers in baseball
When Edwin Diaz went down with an injury in the World Baseball Classic, Mets fans everywhere thought it would be the end of our bullpen. Losing the 2022 reliever of the year was a major blow, especially just weeks before the season started.
Now a month into the season, the closer role has gone from a perceived weakness to one of the Mets biggest strengths thanks to David Robertson. Signed in the offseason to set up for Diaz, Robertson was thrust into the closer role and has performed admirably. Through his first 14.1 appearances, Robertson has converted all six save opportunities and allowed just one run.
One of the biggest concerns about Robertson was that he has struggled with his control over the course of his career. So far, he has turned this around to the tune of an 18/5 strikeout to walk ratio. If he is able to keep his control intact over the course of this season, a return to the All Star game is certainly within reach.
While the rest of the Mets pitching staff has struggled across the board, Robertson has been one of the lone bright spots. With Adam Ottavino holding down the 8th inning, the Mets have a formidable end of the bullpen that has been instrumental in their wins. What Edwin Diaz means to the Mets cannot be replaced, but Robertson has taken a major concern a way from a team that needs all the help it can get.
Brandon Nimmo has played like an All Star to start of the season for the Mets
The Mets signed Brandon Nimmo to a seven year deal this past season, and so far that is already paying immediate returns. For a team that desperately needs improvement across the lineup, Nimmo has been the most reliable bat for the team all season long.
Nimmo is hitting .310 in the leadoff spot this season, which easily leads the team. He has consistently gotten on base all season long, and the success of the Mets offense normally depends on how well he is playing. After not being a base stealing threat for most of his career, Nimmo is opening up his game there as well, and is third on the team with three steals.
Where Nimmo has truly shined however has surprisingly been his defense. After being a liability in center field for most of his career, he might earn some significant Gold Glove consideration this season. No matter the occasion, Nimmo always seems to be in the right place at the right time, putting his body on the line on a daily basis to bail out the Mets.
While he has been streaky at times, its scary to think where the Mets would be with Brandon Nimmo this season. For a lineup with so many holes, his ability to get on base has been paramount. Combine that with his much improved defense, and Nimmo has undoubtedly been the team MVP for the Mets so far, and should easily be an All Star if he keeps this pace.