After going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs Monday against the Marlins, T.J. Rivera continued to impress with his bat. So far this spring, he has hit .303/.286/.606 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 33 at bats. He also hit two home runs and a double in the World Baseball Classic to help showcase some newfound power. His international March has been impressive, but was it enough to earn him a spot on the Opening Day roster?
Rivera, 28, was phenomenal for the Mets down the stretch last season. Able to play any infield position, he hit .333/.345/.476 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in 33 games. He is certainly a Major League-caliber player, however he could be a casualty to the depth of the Mets bench. With David Wright‘s shoulder injury, Jose Reyes moves from his super-utility role to that of the starting third baseman.
The Mets have lefty-killer Wilmer Flores to step into that super-utility role and back up every infield position, but that is it. If one of the Mets infielders were to get injured and Flores had to start, next in line for that super-utility role would be T.J. Rivera.
Generally speaking, a team carries five outfielders, six infielders, and two catchers. With Wright probably starting the season on the DL, the Mets would be left with only five infielders. Could Rivera be the prime candidate to fill the last spot on the Mets bench due to his impressive 2016 as well as his strong spring start in 2017? Only Sandy Alderson knows for sure, and he’s having an all hands on deck meeting to make those final roster decisions today.
In 625 Minor League games, Rivera hit .324/.371/.434 which when combined with his 33 Major League games, is a large enough sample size to prove undeniably that this kid can hit. Being around hitting coach Kevin Long has brought out some power in him as his .606 SLG% this spring would suggest, as well as his .476 mark last season. I not only expect Rivera to make the team, but to stick around for the entire season as a super-utility player who can really hit.
