According to Mets manager Mickey Callaway, who spoke to reporters after today’s 8-7 loss to the Astros, backup catcher Travis d’Arnaud will DH during Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
It will be d’Arnaud’s first game action since he underwent Tommy John surgery last April. The former Mets starting backstop says he’s ready.
“Everything feels good,” d’Arnaud says. “Defensively, good. Offensively, good. I’m getting close to being in games and I’m getting excited, man. I’m excited.”
Original Post – 9:00 AM
Several years ago, Travis d’Arnaud was the center piece in the deal that sent R.A. Dickey north of the border.
Of course, the center piece ended up being right-hander Noah Syndergaard, but Travis d’Arnaud at the time was one of the best catching prospects in baseball. While that never really came to fruition at the MLB level due to injuries mostly, d’Arnaud is going into the 2019 season as the Mets’ back up catcher, and is keeping his head up.
“It’s not frustrating at all,” d’Arnaud said, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “It is what it is. I’m just going to keep my head high and keep trying to play the game the way I was taught to.”
D’Arnaud’s most recent injury came in April of last year, where he was told he would have to undergo Tommy John surgery and end the remainder of his season. The Mets extended d’Arnaud a contract for his walk year, and he’s in camp now fully healthy.
The Mets brought in veteran catcher Wilson Ramos to take most of the reps behind the plate, but Ramos has injury history of his own, so d’Arnaud still might get into a fair amount of games.
“I think he looks at it like that — not that he’s the backup, but that he’s going to be able to start quite a few games as well,” Mets’ manager Mickey Callaway said.
The now 30-year-old will look to make an impact for New York in his contract year, and says he’s feeling good.
“Everything feels good,” said d’Arnaud. “Defensively, good. Offensively, good. I’m getting close to being in games and I’m getting excited, man. I’m excited.”
