Yoenis Cespedes

New York Mets: Cespedes will play the outfield against the Yankees and is “moving better” every day

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New York Mets, Yeonis Cespedes

As Opening Day keeps approaching and is only a week away, New York Mets’ manager Luis Rojas now has a clearer picture about the form of his players. He has seen them train and play for quite a few days now, and the píeces are starting to fall into their place.

One important piece in the Mets’ puzzle is Yoenis Cespedes. By now, virtually every fan knows that he hasn’t played a Major League game since July 2018 because of multiple surgeries in his heels and his ankle.

The New York Mets are among the teams that will benefit the most from the universal designated hitter rule, because they get to slot Cespedes and his potent bat almost every day without him risking his legs in the field. But wait… what about if he could play the outfield every once in a while?

The Mets want him to be able to play the outfield occasionally

According to what Rojas said Friday to Tim Britton of The Athletic, Cespedes playing the outfield is something that “we’re definitely getting more confident every time we see him out there.” That would be incredible news for a player that has worked hard to return, and for a team that could use the extra flexibility.

“He’s moving well. We are hoping to put him in the outfield for one of the two games against the Yankees, and that will say a lot. Yankee Stadium has got a big gap, so moving around and taking a first step off the bat, if he can play left there and get challenged a few plays will say a lot to us. That’s something we haven’t seen yet in our games as much, him getting really challenged,” the Mets skipper said.

Rojas conceded that Cespedes seems to “move better every day. We have seen him on the bases, making turns, cutting angles. He’s done a good job. He’s done his homework as far as his progression and doing what he has to do with the performance staff.”

For now, Cespedes is expected to be the New York Mets’ designated hitter come Opening Day, but if he passes the Yankee Stadium test, he could find himself in the outfield every once in a while.

New York Mets: Michael Wacha Dominates Intrasquad Game

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New York Mets, Michael Wacha

The New York Mets played another summer camp game to get themselves ready for their weekend exhibition series against the New York Yankees. Michael Wacha stole the show with a terrific pitching performance as he tries to assure the Mets he can fill Noah Syndergaard‘s absence.

Wacha pitched five no-hit innings, which included an extra batter in some of the innings. He struck out four batters on only 69 pitches, with the only baserunner coming on a Dominic Smith error. After the long layoff, the pitchers usually have the upper hand on the hitters. Wacha still looked sharp, his changeup strong as ever, and improved his curveball from 2019.

Any Offense?

Wilson Ramos and Ryan Cordell both added home runs in the matchup. The blue squad defeated the white squad 3-1 but also received encouraging signs just based on the players who could take the field. Jed Lowrie, Yoenis Cespedes, and Robinson Cano both played in the game and came out of it without any issues.

Cano and Cespedes also added hits for the blue team while J.D. Davis recorded the only hit for the white team. Lastly, the Mets release some of their fan cutouts that will be in the stands during the season.

New York Mets: Remembering what a healthy Yoenis Cespedes can do to a baseball

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New York Mets, Yeonis Cespedes

Yoenis Cespedes, the New York Mets‘ star that was behind the team rise to the World Series in 2015, hasn’t played in nearly two years. He has undergone multiple heel and ankle surgeries. However, people seem to have forgotten just how good the slugger was pre-injuries.

Thanks to a fantastic compilation of stats and analysis made by MLB.com’s David Adler, we find it easier to remember just how good the Cuban star is at hitting baseballs. A hint: he is very, very good.

Of course, it would be foolish for the New York Mets, and for fans, to expect 2015 production from Cespedes. After all, he hasn’t played since July 2018. Let’s take it easy with expectations. But if he is as healthy as he claims to be, watch out.

Per Adler, Cespedes said he’s ready to roll. He says that hitting Major League pitching is like “riding a bike,” which means that it could get some time to get used to, but you just don’t forget how to do it overnight.

The Mets masher

Upon arriving to the Mets on July 31, 2015, he played 59 games to end the year, which is roughly the equivalent of the 2020 season.

In that span, he hit 17 home runs, slug .604 with a .942 OPS and virtually carried the Mets’ offense into the postseason.

This year, he doesn’t have to carry the lineup all by himself. He has Pete Alonso to do that. But speaking of the Polar Bear, look at this comparison of each player’s peak performance in a 60-game span:

HR: Céspedes — 23 | Alonso — 22
RBIs: Céspedes — 61 | Alonso — 51
SLG: Céspedes — .687 | Alonso — .639
OPS: Céspedes — 1.041 Alonso — 1.022
wRC+: Céspedes — 183 | Alonso — 166

Cespedes may not be at his 2015 form this time around, but don’t discount him. He has hit 74 homers as a Mets’ player in 308 games, or nearly a 40-homers-per-season pace.

Let’s hope he’s healthy, because if he is, he could be a fantastic complementary piece for the Mets in their quest for the postseason.

New York Mets: Second Base Options Without Robinson Cano

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New York Mets’ second baseman, Robinson Cano’s absence from summer camp, is a growing issue each day. The Mets have no timetable for his return, and they will need to figure out a replacement if he is not ready for opening weekend in just ten days.

Jeff McNeil

The obvious choice comes in moving Jeff McNeil to second base. Though his best defensive position is at third base, his production at second base would rank with the best in baseball. With moving McNeil to second, third base needs a replacement.

For the best offense, J.D. Davis moves to third, which allows the combination of Yoenis Cespedes and Dominic Smith to play a majority of the time in left field. Defensively, a healthy Jed Lowrie moves to third, allowing Davis/Cespedes to split DH and left field.

Jed Lowrie

If Jed Lowrie is ever healthy enough to play consistently, he is the simplest option. Lowrie has been a second baseman since 2016 and allows McNeil to remain at third base. He is likely the only switch hitter to stay on the Mets 30-man roster when camp breaks. With his damaged legs, at an older age, it is safe to assume his defense is not what it used to be but could hold the position if Cano is only out for a short period.

Andres Gimenez

Things get interesting with Andres Gimenez. The natural shortstop and top prospect is a long shot at earning a starting job in 2020. He has only played 26 games at second base throughout the minors but is a high upside option should the Mets turn to him for a 60-game sprint.

Due to the Mets’ “win-now” mentality, he needs a very impressive summer camp for the Mets to give him the nod to play every day at second base. During the 30-man roster period, he should see a couple of games there, without Cano, but anything more is unlikely at the moment.

New York Mets: Luis Rojas says Yoenis Cespedes’ bat is ‘ready for opening day’

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New York Mets, Yeonis Cespedes

There has been a lot of optimism in recent weeks that New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will be on the active roster for the team’s July 24 season opener against the Atlanta Braves.

Sunday afternoon Mets manager Luis Rojas said he feels Cespedes’ bat is “ready for Opening Day” (quotes by means of Zach Braziller of the New York Post).

“I feel that his bat is ready for Opening Day. The way we saw him running yesterday, I feel he looks ready for Opening Day,” Rojas said on Sunday as the Mets continued spring training 2.0 at Citi Field. “He said it [on Saturday], which is always great to hear. But we’ll keep reassessing with that part.”

Rojas sees encouraging signs in Cespedes’ base-running.

“His base-running is ahead of what I thought it was going to be like,” Rojas said. “I saw him running the bases [on Saturday] and he looks great. The defense is the part we need to see more and more [of], the progression. We’ll reassess as we speak with the performance staff.”

Rojas reiterates the positivity surrounding Cespedes’ health, saying the outfielder looks “really good.”

“This guy, he does it all,” the first-year manager said. “He looks really [good].”

Cespedes hasn’t appeared in a big-league game for the Mets since July 2018 due to a multitude of injuries. He has appeared in just 119 games since 2017 and been unable to play a full season since 2015, when the Mets acquired the outfielder at the Major League Baseball trade deadline from the Detroit Tigers.

Cespedes is part of an outfield rotation that includes Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, J.D. Davis and Jake Marisnick. MLB implemented a universal designated hitter for the 2020 season. The Mets could potentially utilize Cespedes as their DH.

The outfielder recently claimed that he’s healthy and will be ready for opening day.

New York Mets: Cespedes Opening Day Ready, Cano and Brach Still Out

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New York Mets, Robinson Cano

We are just one week away from the New York Mets, taking the field for their first exhibition game of summer camp. The Mets are extremely encouraged with the progress of Yoenis Cespedes, but the absence of Robinson Cano and Brad Brach are growing issues for the team.

Cespedes has drawn high praise throughout summer camp, and players compared him to being on the same level he was on in 2015. He proclaimed that he will be ready for Opening Day and will be 100% the Cespedes everyone hopes he can be.

Cespedes has not played in two years but is smashing the ball during intrasquad games at Citi Field. Ideally, Cespedes plays left field more than designated hitter because over his arm and gold glove ability. With his injury history, the Mets will handle Cespedes carefully throughout the 60-game stretch. Not only is he playing for 2020, but the 34-year old is playing to earn a lucrative deal in the offseason.

Cano and Brach Missing in Action

The absence of Robinson Cano and Brad Brach are lingering problems that grow worse for the Mets each day. Neither has attended any workouts and as usual, under the Brodie Van Wagenen regime, their reasons for absence are a secret. We will not hear the reason either until the players themselves release it due to the organization’s policy during this COVID-19 shortened season.

The Mets did have one player test positive before summer camp, but they never confirmed the player. Cano was present during the first couple of days but is a mystery man now. The high priced veteran is the everyday second baseman. Brach has not been present at any workouts, but the Mets hope to see both of them soon.

New York Mets: Cespedes goes yard against Lugo; Lowrie doubles off deGrom

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New York Mets, Yeonis Cespedes

The New York Mets‘ training camp at Citi Field is filled with competition. The latest intrasquad game, held on Thursday, wasn’t without some exciting moments involving some of the team’s brightest stars.

Jacob deGrom was supposed, and rightfully so, to be the highlight of the day until rehabbing slugger Yoenis Cespedes stole the show with a huge two-run home run off star late-inning reliever Seth Lugo.

According to Anthony DiComo, Céspedes turned around without running the bases and walked casually back to the dugout after hitting the moonshot.

Of course, this is all practice reps, but the development is noteworthy because Lugo was among the best bullpen arms not only in the New York Mets, but in the major leagues last season, with a sparkling 2.70 ERA in 80 frames.

Additionally, Cespedes has all eyes on him after failing to play since July 2018 with multiple heel and ankle surgeries. He even made the news after being involved in an accident with a wild boar at his ranch that resulted in the ankle injury and, subsequently, in the Mets lowering his base salary.

After months of an intense and slow rehab process, Cespedes is already batting, running, catching fly balls in the outfield and even taking some grounds at first base. He seems firmly entrenched as the Mets’ first option for the designated hitter spot.

Lowrie making strides for the Mets

Another positive development after Thursday’s intrasquad action was Jed Lowrie showing some signs of life after being limited all spring with a left knee injury.

He had been wearing a large brace for months, and even though he is transitioning to a lighter one, he still isn’t out of the woods yet. Yesterday, he managed to hit a double to the warning track in center field, against deGrom, no less.

His baserunning and overall movement remains limited, but he was able to job to second base and went around to score a few moments later. That was the only run that deGrom conceded in his three innings of work.

New York Mets: Yoenis Cespedes’ busy camp continues as he takes grounders at first base

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New York Mets, Yeonis Cespedes

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who is entering the final year of his multi-year pact, has had quite an eventful year. Amid rumors that the team would look to cancel his deal after he broke his ankle in a ranch accident, the Mets managed to restructure it to significantly lower his base salary and make him earn his payday on the field.

That, and the fact that Cespedes was also coming from multiple heel surgeries in the last couple of years, has contributed to him not playing in MLB games since July 2018. After overcoming hurdles little by little, he is now the New York Mets’ top choice for designated hitter duties, and a couple of games in the outfield here or there eventually.

However, according to SNY.tv, he was seen getting grounds on first base during Wednesday morning’s practice at Citi Field, and also receiving throws from the shortstop in the first sack. So the question is raised: is Yoenis Cespedes preparing for playing time at that position this season?

Are the Mets really considering the idea?

According to Mets manager Luis Rojas, starting first baseman Pete Alonso gave Cespedes the glove he was using. Is it possible that the club considers the hitting star to back up Alonso during the season?

“He’s got this glove that Pete Alonso gave him so he’s hanging out with it and he’s taking his ground balls,” Rojas said during a Zoom interview on Wednesday. “He wants to be involved. He was done with his throwing in the outfield.

“This is a guy who wants to be on the field and do different things. He wants to show you that he’s really good everywhere.”

Cespedes’ injury story has led some in the industry to suggest he may fit in first base in the future. The body endures significantly less running, wear and tear. And the Mets’ skipper has said that the thought has been discussed, but for now, he seems locked and loaded as the club’s top DH option.

“I think he’s played every position in the books. We’ve definitely had conversations about it but nothing serious yet that there’s going to be versatility as far as him that we’ve talked [about] yet.”

New York Mets: Michael Conforto calls Yoenis Cespedes a ‘monster’

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New York Mets, Yeonis Cespedes

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has been crippled by injuries in recent memory and hasn’t appeared in a big-league game since July 2018.

Fellow outfielder Michael Conforto says Cespedes, who’s entering the final year of a four-year, $110 million contract, looks like a “monster” in summer camp (quotes by means of MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo).

“He looks like a monster,” Conforto said Saturday, a day after working out alongside Céspedes at Citi Field. “He looks like he’s motivated. He looks like he’s in shape. I’ve seen some of the stuff he was doing to get himself ready, some videos of him working out at his ranch. The guy is definitely hungry. He misses the game.”

The Mets acquired Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers at the 2015 MLB trade deadline. Across his first season and a half in Queens (189 games), Cespedes totaled 48 home runs and 130 RBIs while mostly starting in left field. He has appeared in 119 games since 2017.

MLB has implemented a universal designated hitter for 2020, which has led to discussion over whether Cespedes could be the Mets’ everyday DH in the truncated 60-game season.

Conforto says Cespedes’ presence in the order will be “incredible” for the Mets.

“To get Yo in the lineup on an everyday basis, that’s going to be absolutely incredible for us,” Conforto said. “It’s something that we haven’t had, and we’re pretty excited about it.”

Conforto raves about Yoenis Cespedes the teammate.

“I say this every time somebody asks me about him: He really is a great teammate,” Conforto said. “He brings energy to our drills, to the cage. He’s just a guy you miss having around, so I’m excited that he’s back and he’s feeling good. Hopefully, he can do what he does best for us and really bring the thunder with that bat and make some great plays in the outfield.”

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets are expected to open the 2020 season at home against the Atlanta Braves on July 24.

New York Mets injury report: Cespedes sprinting, Lowrie still on brace

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For a regular baseball player, running sprints is just another part of their training routine. For a guy that hasn’t played since July 2018, though, and is looking to make his mark in the last year of his contract, it is a significant development. Yoenis Cespedes, after months of being unable to run at full speed, did just that in the New York Mets‘ Citi Field on Friday night.

He also played catch with his throwing partner Johneshwy Fargas, per MLB.com. The sprinting is a giant step in the right direction for the Mets’ outfielder, who has missed the last year (and change) with multiple heel and ankle surgeries. He seems an awful lot closer now.

“We’ll see in the upcoming days in camp when we start ramping it up more and we get involved into the bases and all that where he is as far as that,” manager Luis Rojas said earlier in the day. “But I know he was in progression and I heard really good things about it, and I can’t wait to see Céspedes myself.”

With the addition of the designated hitter in the National League, the New York Mets stand to be among the biggest beneficiaries because they can plug Cespedes in that slot and bring him along slowly. They also have other candidates such as J.D. Davis, Dom Smith and Robinson Cano.

Lowrie still a question mark for the Mets

While the Mets got good news on Cespedes, infielder Jed Lowrie seems stuck in his recovery. He reported to spring training with a knee brace back in February, and he still has it this time around.

As a result, he may not be able to participate in full baseball activities at Mets camp. The likelihood is that he won’t appear in games until he sheds his brace. Brodie Van Wagenen recently narrowed down Lowrie’s physical issues to his left knee, and said he must find a way to feel comfortable playing while wearing a lighter brace.

For now, Lowrie played catch and took some ground balls, but not much else.

“Once again, we’re going to see how his progression is,” Rojas said. “That’s something that I need to reassess with the performance staff as well to see where he is. The knee brace was his limitation as far as getting comfortable … throughout practice and seeing if he can wear it in games. That was the question as we were going through camp, and we need to reassess with the performance staff here in camp as far as his baseball activity.”