New York Mets first baseman Wilmer Flores has been one of the few bright spots offensively for a team that has struggled mightily to score runs in the month of June (85 in 24 games).
Since coming off the disabled list on June 15, Flores is hitting .286/.319/.571 with three doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI in 42 at-bats. He has started nine of the last 10 games at first base while the Mets have faced multiple lefties and give Dominic Smith time in left field.
Flores, 26, is now slashing .258/.320/.445 with 109 wRC+ and six home runs on the season.
The big difference for Flores in 2018 has been laying off more pitches outside the zone (31.2 O-Swing% in 2018/34.2% in 2017) and making more contact (87.6 contact% in 2018/85.3% in 2017).
Both of these changes have helped Flores to a career-high 8.6% walk rate and career-low 10.9% strikeout rate.
While Smith has showed some power (five extra base hits) his offensive struggles overall have continue to the major league level this year after having an ugly .713 OPS in the PCL this year. Smith is hitting only .227/.261/.409 with 17 strikeouts and only one walk in 46 plate appearances.
Unsurprisingly, Smith has struggled in left field as well with -4 DRS in 50 innings out there. He has been solid at first with 0 DRS though.
The question becomes who’s on first for the Mets going forward in a lost season. Flores, Smith or prospect Peter Alonso (struggling in June with .757 OPS)?
