According to Sunday’s SNY broadcast, New York Mets shortstop Amed Rosario was benched in Sunday’s series finale in Miami for disciplinary reasons.
Rosario, 23, settled for an eighth-inning single in Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Marlins, after appearing not to run at full speed and failing to take advantage of JT Riddle‘s misplay in center field.
Ahead of Sunday’s matchup, Mets manager Mickey Callaway told reporters (Matt Ehalt, Yahoo Sports) Rosario was getting a “scheduled day off”, referring to the young Dominican product as “totally healthy”.
Rosario’s not only healthy, but he’s also been enjoying an impressive stretch at the plate. Over his last 86 plate appearances, Rosario’s slashing .316/.341/.418 with five doubles, a homer, six RBIs, a .322 wOBA, 103 wRC+.
His measly 7.6% soft-hit rate over that span is lowest among all qualified MLB shortstops over that span. If only his defense was more palatable.
In 2019, Amed Rosario’s -14 defensive runs saved are tied with Boston’s Xander Bogaerts for worst in the majors among qualified shortstops, and his -6.0 ultimate zone rating is dead last.
After Sunday’s 6-2 win over the Marlins, Callaway spoke to the media (SNY) regarding Rosario’s temporary absence in the lineup (double, run scored after coming in during a double-switch in the seventh).
“I think that some of that stuff we do internally needs to stay with us. [Rosario] knows some of the reasons why he didn’t play today,” Callaway said, noting that he wanted to get Adeiny Hechavarria, his replacement, going. “All the other stuff is stuff that needs to be done sometimes.”
Callaway then told reporters he “wouldn’t call it disciplinary”, referencing the scheduling of a night game ahead of a day game as a factor, as well as an opportunity for Hechavarria to play, adding “we addressed that part of it after the game last night; he knows he has to be on second”.
When asked if SNY’s in-game report was accurate, Callaway replied, “[Rosario] knows he should have run it out”.
Rosario told the media (video via Matt Ehalt, Yahoo), “I think I got caught up in the emotion of popping out”, adding “it wasn’t the best decision to make”.
We’ll keep you posted with any new information.
