During Wednesday’s batting practice at Citi Field, utility man Kelly Johnson was waiting his turn at the end of the line. The players that are not expected to be in the lineup always go last. But as fate would have it, just as batting practice was wrapping up, manager Terry Collins shouted out to Johnson, “Hey Kay-Jay, giddy-up, your starting in left field.”
That’s life when you’re a part of the Mets bench where opportunities for vastly increased playing time is open to everyone as the regular Mets players keep dropping like flies or under-perform. Who would’ve believed on Opening Day that by June 15, Rene Rivera is your regular catcher, James Loney is your starting first baseman, Wilmer Flores is manning the hot corner, and Alejandro De Aza is pushing Michael Conforto for more playing time?
Last night, center fielder Juan Lagares was the latest concern, a late scratch as his painful thumb continues to plague him. Johnson, however, came through with a big game.
In the third inning against Pittsburgh starter Jeff Locke, Johnson blasted his second home run of the season. It was a booming Kingman-esque homer that traveled an estimated 437 feet.
Johnson has been quite the upstart in his second stint with the Mets, batting .412 with a .474 on-base and a 1.180 OPS in 17 at-bats. You couldn’t have scripted this any better thus far.
