Juan Lagares was on base three times in as many plate appearances on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, delivering a pair of singles, a walk, two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. He’s batting .500 with a 1.071 OPS so far this Spring.
Lagares is expected to open the season as the team’s fourth outfielder, but came to camp in excellent shape after losing 20 pounds during a vigorous offseason workout with former Met Jose Reyes. Clearly he showed up looking to somehow reclaim a more substantial role.
The 2014 Gold Glove center fielder is the first Met on the practice field, spends hours in the batting cage, and his energy level is off the charts. He’s the talk of camp.
“It starts out with the way he came into spring training,” Terry Collins said after Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to the Braves. “You saw it, he walked in and was in tremendous shape. It’s a tribute to him the way he’s gone about things and he’s had a good spring. He’s bound and determined to show us that he belongs back in the lineup.”
This isn’t the first time Juan Lagares had a great Spring Training. A year ago manager Terry Collins had a heart-to-heart with his young center fielder and challenged him to become the leadoff hitter the team desperately needed.
Lagares responded by batting .359 with a .402 On-Base Percentage and he led the team with 23 hits. Among those hits he had seven doubles, one triple and three home runs. On Opening Day he was batting sixth in the lineup.
With Michael Conforto and Yoenis Cespedes a good bet to play everyday in 2016, and Curtis Granderson expected to be in right field against right-handed pitching, Lagares is going to be in the lineup whenever the Mets face a left-handed pitcher. He batted .277/.334/.438 vs. LHP in 2015.
Lagares could become a great story this year, and if Cespedes opts out after the season like everyone expects, he could very well be the Mets Opening Day center fielder in 2017 – and a great one at that if he taps into his full potential. So let it be written, so let it be done. LGM
