Daniel Vogelbach
Player Data: Age: 29 (12/17/1992), B/T: L/R
Traditional Stats with Mets: 55 G, 183 PA, 149 AB, .255/.393/.436/.830, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 33 BB, 47 SO
Advanced Stats with Mets: 144 wRC+, 25.7 K%, 18.0 BB%, .333 BABIP, 1.0 fWAR, 0.9 bWAR
2022 Salary: $1 million
Grade: B
2022 Review
Daniel Vogelbach became a member of the New York Mets on July 22, when he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for rookie pitcher Colin Holderman. This was a significant move at the time, as the Mets traded away a young reliever in the midst of a fantastic first season in the majors for a pure power-hitting lefty bat, the type of player the Mets desperately needed. Some were disappointed in the trade as they wished Holderman remained a member of the team, while others lauded it as a necessary move for a Mets team needing some pop in its lineup.
At the time of the trade, Vogelbach played in 75 games with the Pirates and hit .228/.338/.430/.769 with 12 home runs and 34 RBIs. Despite a less-than-ideal batting average, Vogelbach’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage suggested that he was skilled at getting on base and providing power which is what made him an attractive trade option in the eyes of manager Buck Showalter and general manager Billy Eppler.
The biggest reason the Mets acquired Vogelbach is because they viewed him as part of the solution to two of the team’s biggest letdowns: the designated hitter role and the fifth spot in the order.
The Mets’ DH spot was a resounding disappointment in the first half of 2022. Dominic Smith and J.D. Davis combined for four home runs (all from Davis) and 24 RBIs in 221 plate appearances as a designated hitter. This lack of production forced Smith to be demoted to Triple-A and Davis to be traded at the trade deadline. As it pertains to the fifth spot in the order, this was the second-least productive spot in the order for the 2022 Mets only in front of the ninth spot. For all of 2022, Mets hitters in the fifth spot hit .215/.310/.343/.653 with 13 home runs and 70 RBIs in 691 plate appearances.
This type of repeated failure in both the designated hitter role and the fifth spot in the lineup was simply unacceptable, and Vogelbach was seen as the answer, at least against righties, to provide the quality results the Mets needed. Vogelbach has a career batting line of .238/.364/.458/.822 against righties, with 67 home runs and 190 RBI.
In short order after he was traded, Vogelbach became a fan favorite in New York. Fans and media alike were entranced by him in part because of his undeniable likability, but also because he got off to a hot start with his new team. From his debut on July 24 through August 22, Vogelbach batted a tremendous .284/.418/.541/.959 with four home runs and 15 RBI,s which must have exceeded even Showalter and Eppler’s wildest expectations.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Vogelbach came back down to Earth as the season winded down. From August 23 through the end of the season, he batted .227/.370/.333/.703 with two home runs and 10 RBIs. Then in the postseason series against San Diego, he was essentially a non-factor as he went 0-for-7 with a sacrifice fly in the three games.
In 2022, Vogelbach more often than not provided the Mets with exactly what they expected of him. He seemed at times to be the target of anger from fans who called the Mets’ trade deadline a failure, but it would be unfair to group him with the other players who were acquired, given his objectively positive performance with the team. He went through some cold stretches, but his ability to consistently get on base, hit for power and provide protection for Pete Alonso in the lineup was evident the entire time. His 139 OPS+ and 144 wRC+ with the team suggest that he was the massive upgrade they thought he would be, which is why he is deserving of a B grade.
2023 Outlook
On November 8, the Mets announced that they exercised Vogelbach’s club option for the 2023 season. The option was for $1.5 million, an easy decision for a player of Vogelbach’s caliber. A salary of only $1.5 million could make Vogelbach expendable if he fails to meet expectations, but the Mets fully expect him to outperform this number in 2023.
Barring any surprise free agent signings or trades, Vogelbach will once again be the Mets’ designated hitter against right-handed pitchers. He isn’t a multidimensional player, so he won’t provide defense or at-bats against lefties, but his ability to mash righties makes him a valuable asset for the team next season.
