Get to Know Mets Outfielder Albert Almora

This past weekend, the New York Mets added a strong defensive center fielder to their roster, reaching an agreement with Albert Almora on a big league deal with a $1.25 million base salary, plus incentives.

Whether or not this was a smart investment for Sandy Alderson and company remains to be seen. In the mean time, it is worth getting to know Almora as he will certainly be donning the orange and blue for at least the 2021 season.

Almora began making a name for himself early-on in his amateur baseball career.

In both 2010 and 2011, Almora played for the USA Baseball U18 National Team. Those rosters featured some big name big leaguers including Alex Bregman, Joey Gallo, David Dahl, and Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor.

During the 2011 season, he was named USA Baseball’s Athlete of the Year and took home the tournament MVP after hitting .365 and helping carry the team to a 9-0 record and Gold Medal win over Team Canada.

Almora began catching the eyes of many scouts, and he ended up making a verbal commitment to play baseball for the University of Miami.

Almora entered the 2012 MLB Draft, and ended up being selected by the Chicago Cubs with the sixth overall pick right out of Mater Academy Charter School in Florida. Almora decided to forgo his commitment and sign with the Cubs, ultimately beginning his professional baseball career.

After a successful stint in rookie ball, Almora began the 2013 season ranked as MLB.com’s second best prospect in the Cubs system and the 39th best prospect in all of baseball. He battled a few injuries during his second season, but continued his success, posting a .376 OBP and .842 OPS over 61 games for the Kane County Cougars.

Despite not showing much power at the plate, Almora continued to steadily rise through the system, hitting for average, getting on-base at a decent clip, and playing strong defense at every level.

Almora spent the entire 2015 season with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, posting a .327 OBP and .400 SLG over 106 games. He was promoted to Triple-A for the 2016 season where he spent 80 games before receiving the call to the big leagues in June.

Almora made his impact felt on the defensive side of the ball right away, recording an outfield assist in his first career start. He went on to appear in 47 games, and certainly played the part, hitting .277/.308/.455 and accumulating 6 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 3 Outs Above Average (OAA).

Most notably from his rookie season, Almora was brought in to pinch-run in the top of tenth in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. After a heads up base running decision to tag up from first to second on a deep fly out to center, Almora scored the go-ahead run on a Ben Zobrist double.

Almora enjoyed success both at the plate and in center over the next two seasons in Chicago, accounting for 1.2 and 2.0 Wins Above Replacement in 2017 and 2018, and a combined 10 DRS and 8 OAA.

The 2019 season was a much different story offensively for the young righty. He struggled mightily, finishing in the bottom 2% of the league with a .271 wOBA, according to Baseball Savant. However, he didn’t let this bother him on the defensive side of the ball, as he still accounted for 3 OAA.

Coming off the worst campaign of his career, Almora ended on the wrong side of a platoon with Ian Happ to begin the 2020 season. He received limited playing time, and ended up being optioned to the alternate site, ultimately leading to him being non-tendered a deal in December.

While Almora isn’t the big splash most Mets fans were looking for in center, he is a low-cost depth signing and offers some potential upside. Almora is also still just 26-years old, a career .271 hitter, with a .734 OPS against left-handed pithing, and plays good-to-great defense in center.

Perhaps a change of scenery from Chicago and a reunion with Chili Davis is exactly what Almora needs to help refine his approach.

Let’s also keep in mind Almora isn’t here to play everyday and be the savior. If he can return to his .260-.270 form at the plate and provide solid defense and base running off the bench, Almora will make for solid outfield depth for this Mets team.

Give the kid a shot Mets fans.