Travis d’Arnaud hit his first home run since the first week of April tonight as the Binghamton Mets beat the Harrisburg Senators 3-2.
The two-run homer was one of two hits for d’Arnaud who is now batting .286 (10-for-35) between Rookie League and Double-A since returning from a broken foot that saw him miss three months of the season.
Asked whether the Mets intend to keep the 24-year old catcher at Double-A Binghamton for now, Paul DePodesta told Adam Rubin, “Travis is simply going through the normal rehab routine. Virtually everyone who’s been out for a while starts at the GCL and makes one more stop somewhere before returning to their customary level. We felt Binghamton was the best spot for him to do that.”
John Sickels downgraded d’Arnaud from an A- to a B+ this week writing:
“He’s been hurt all year, just now getting back into action, playing for Double-A Binghamton. Hitting .253/.378/.418 in those 20 games split between three levels. I don’t think his talent level has changed, but he seems more vulnerable to injury than most catchers at this point, and staying healthy is a skill in itself.”
Staying on the field is going to be the key for d’Arnaud who has missed almost 200 games over the last four seasons with three serious injuries to his back, knee and foot.
