Andrés Giménez

Player Data: Age 22, B/T: L/R
Primary Stats: .263/.333/.398, 49 G, 132 PA, 3 HR, 12 RBIs, 8 SB, 22 R, 28 K, 8 BB,
Advanced Stats: .318 BABIP, .321 wOBA, 105 wRC+, 102 OPS+, 1.0 WAR, 5 OAA

Free Agent: 2026

Grade: B+

2020 Review

For a 21-year-old with no experience above AA to come to the majors and produce is not entirely unknown, yet it is not the norm. Had the 2020 season progressed the way every other season prior to it had, Andrés Giménez would have likely started in Triple-A Syracuse and been in line for a September call-up depending on not only his performance but how the MLB club was performing at the time.

Alas, the universe had other plans and the 2020 season was unlike any other in baseball history, and rule changes implemented by MLB on roster size and the cancellation of all minor league seasons would set up Giménez to make his debut a little sooner than expected.

After breaking Spring Training 2.0 with the Mets, Gimenez wasted little time before making an impact at the MLB level. In his first start, July 29th, the shortstop went 2-for-4 including a run-scoring triple in a loss to the Red Sox.

Giménez would go on to start 29 games of the Mets 60-game schedule, going as far as making a debatable case to be the starting shortstop over incumbent Amed Rosario. As he gained the trust of his former manager Luis Rojas, Giménez was given plenty of opportunities during the second-half stretch to show the Mets and the rest of baseball why he was such a highly-touted prospect.

While many thought Giménez would develop into an above-average hitter at the plate, his ability to generate power was definitely a question mark. After changing his swing in 2019, Giménez seemed more comfortable at the plate this year and the direct results of the change manifested in his ability to get more lift out of his swing, resulting in three home runs in 118 at-bats, a rate that exceeded those of his previous minor league seasons.

While he will probably never hit 25-plus home runs, the work he put in to now have the ability to drive the ball and make hard quality contact will result in plenty of doubles, and he has the speed to turn some of those into triples.

While the above offensive performance out of Giménez was great to see, his defensive ability was the main attraction. With a glove in his hand, Giménez made more than his fair share of highlight reel plays.

For a team that has let defense become a secondary concern in recent years, it was great to see the routine plays made effortlessly and the difficult look easy. One could argue that the pairing of him and fellow wizard Luis Guillorme is perhaps the best double play combination the franchise has had in a long time.

The numbers back up what the eyes saw as well, as Gimenez finished tied with the Cubs Nico Hoerner for highest OAA among rookie infielders with 5. The only shortstops rated higher than Giménez were Fernando Tatis Jr and Francisco Lindor, which is pretty good company to be in.

2021 Outlook

Andrés Giménez should be the starting shortstop for the Mets in 2021 and beyond. His defense has a chance to be Gold Glove-worthy and would provide the security that any pitching staff would love to have behind them, yet has been lacking in Queens for years.

While his offense is not as good as his defense is, there is plenty to be excited about after what he just accomplished as a 21-year-old rookie. While there has been a lot of chatter about the possibility of trading Giménez in order to acquire a certain big name shortstop mentioned above, I think that would be a mistake, as there are far more obvious holes that the Mets need to fill that don’t have a potential All-Star 22-year-old currently occupying.