Photo Credit: Ed Delany, MMO
Yoenis Cespedes showed Sunday just how important his big bat is going to mean to the Mets this season.
With New York already up 2-0 in the second inning, the 32-year-old creamed a low fastball from Miami Marlins pitcher Tyler Cloyd into the stratosphere for a no-doubt three-run bomb.
Cespedes left following the game and did not speak with reporters, but Mets skipper Mickey Callaway spoke about what the slugger brings to the table.
“It’s a presence. You make a mistake, you are going to pay,” Callaway said. “That ball was hit pretty good. Having a guy like that in your lineup changes the feeling, especially when you are the opposing pitching coach and pitchers.”
The two-time All-Star and former Home Run Derby champion appeared in just 81 games for the Mets in 2017 in a year where he was bogged down by injuries.
In 321 plate appearances, the outfielder hit .292/.352/.540 with 17 home runs and 42 RBI.
Cespedes made a conscious effort this offseason to mitigate his lingering hamstring issues. This includes running more and giving up his favorite off the field hobby, playing golf.
When healthy, there’s no doubt how much of an impact Cespedes has on the Mets. Callaway recognizes this and hit him second in the lineup Sunday. While this is common in Spring games to get more at-bats in for players, the manager is considering leaving him there into the regular season.
“I’ve seen the numbers, the numbers make sense to me,” Callaway said of having his big bopper in the No. 2 spot. “The last couple of MVPs and guys getting MVP votes are batting second.”
The Mets and Cespedes are hoping last year’s injury woes were just an aberration and that the veteran can stay on the field and run out there every day just like he did in the 2015 season where he appeared in 159 games.
