According to Justin Toscano of The Record, New York Mets slugger J.D. Davis is set to return to the lineup on Sunday versus the Astros at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, getting the nod in left field.
The 26-year-old had a breakout campaign in 2019, slashing .307/.369/.527 with 22 home runs, 22 doubles, 57 RBIs, and 136 wRC+ over 453 plate appearances for the Mets after being traded to New York from Houston last offseason — one of general manager Brodie Van Wagenen’s first moves at the helm in Flushing,
Davis left the Mets’ Spring Training game versus Detroit in Lakeland on February 25 after jamming his left shoulder while diving for a ball at third base and has been on the shelf since. An MRI the next day revealed no new damage to his shoulder but did uncover a small, already-existing tear in his left labrum which hadn’t previously bothered him.
On March 5, following ten days of rest and his first swings since the injury, Davis told the New York Post, “All the strength is there, all the range of motion is there, it’s just easing it back in”. On Friday Davis faced two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom in live batting practice and took him deep. Easing it back in, indeed.
Davis showed elite ability to hit the ball hard (91.4 MPH average exit velocity; 90th percentile, per Statcast) and put the ball in play often last season (.355 BABIP ranked seventh in the majors among hitters with over 450 PA), and the results were encouraging — especially for a player who didn’t have a ton of major league success coming from Houston (.194/.260/.321 in 181 PA from 2017 to 2018).
Where Davis fits into the Mets plans for 2020 is anyone’s guess at this point. But with versatility being a benchmark of the Mets’ makeup as a roster, chances are we’ll see him at multiple positions over the course of the year.
Third base (+1 outs above average last season) and left field (-7 OAA) are his most likely defensive destinations, likely sharing time at both positions with Jeff McNeil and, whenever he’s ready to return full-time, Yoenis Cespedes in left.
In any case, Davis’ offensive upside will afford him regular playing time and, presumably, his fair share of DH appearances during interleague play. His first Grapefruit League action back on Sunday will be the first step in finding a spot for that potent bat.
Sunday’s game will be televised on WPIX and broadcast on WCBS 880 AM. We’ll keep you posted with more information when it becomes available.
