Ed Delany/MMO
Coming into the 2018 New York Mets camp, one of the big questions was who was going to start at first base on Opening Day?
A young Dominic Smith was coming off his first big league experience though the Mets had signed veteran Adrian Gonzalez.
Smith showed up to camp in better shape, but that goodwill didn’t last long. He was late to arrive for the first game day and was scratched from the lineup. A quad injury would then knock out Smith for most of Spring Training. Gonzalez would win the job (at least for a short period).
Smith would then struggle in Triple-A offensively and then had to deal with learning the outfield as well.
All in all, 2018 was basically a lost season for the still only 23-year-old Smith.
One of the biggest questions going into Mets camp this year was whether or not the team would bring young slugger Pete Alonso north for Opening Day?
The 24-year-old Alonso has been front and center this spring in the media, on the Mets Twitter account, and even some national shows. GM Brodie Van Wagenen has said multiple times in regards to carrying Alonso on the Opening Day roster, that he will bring the “best 25 players” north.
Smith, now the forgotten man, and Alonso have both played well thus far. Smith is 3-for-5 with two walks and no strikeouts. He’s only played first base, and he’s looked smooth there making all the plays.
Alonso, coming off a 36 home run and .975 OPS 2018 season in the minors, has gone 5-for-12 with a double, home run, four RBIs, two walks and has yet to strikeout.
With Smith and Alonso playing well it will be interesting to see how the Mets handle the two when spring training comes to an end.
