In a conversation with Justin Toscano of The Record, New York Mets utility man Luis Guillorme made it clear he’s not worried about how he’ll fit into the Mets’ plans this season. He’s focused solely on performing well enough this spring to carve out a spot on this roster.
“That’s not my place [to speculate on his “potential role” in 2020]. I’m only here fighting for a spot, just like a few guys,” the 25-year-old said. “I’m going to do the best I can to do it and at the end of the day, it’s [the team’s] decision.”
It’s almost like he’s heard that one before.
Despite a solid .289/.368/.350 slash line over seven minor-league seasons (109 extra-base hits, 93 of which were doubles, over 612 MiLB games will do that to a slugging percentage) and possessing a more-than-serviceable glove at three infield positions (+1 DRS, +14.2 UZR/150 at second, third, and shortstop), the Coral Springs, Florida product (by way of Venezuela) has never gotten a prolonged shake at the major league level.
Since making his MLB debut in May 2018, Guillorme’s seen just 144 plate appearances — mostly sporadic, at that — and that inactivity at the only level he has left to conquer is arguably stunting his development. Just don’t tell Guillorme that.
After making the Opening Day roster last season, the Mets optioned and recalled Guillorme to and from Triple-A Syracuse five times over the course of the year — four times from the beginning of the season through July 18, making just 23 plate appearances over that span (.182/.217/.182, seven strikeouts).
Once he began to get more exposure to MLB pitching — from his last recall on August 5 through the end of the season — we saw a different Luis Guillorme; one who could significantly add to the Mets’ bench depth this season. In 47 plate appearances over that span, he slashed an eye-opening .282/.378/.462 with four doubles, six walks, and seven strikeouts.
Guillorme only started six games in the field during that time, but, as evidenced by his increased productivity, as well as his first career home run on August 10 — a pinch-hit, game-tying shot in the eighth inning versus Washington — the major-league hitter he’s developing into could fit perfectly into the Mets’ 26th roster spot this season.
His versatility in the field seems to fit this organization’s new modus operandi very well, and a more finely tuned (and better prepared) bat couldn’t hurt either.
Mets skipper Luis Rojas is certainly familiar enough with Guillorme’s skillset to know what type of player he is and what he brings to the collective table, expressing as much to Toscano.
“That journey developing through the system helps him be a good utility player for us in the infield,” Rojas said. “That’s how we see Luis right now. He’s got a lot of value at those three positions.”
Whether Guillorme can turn enough heads as camp begins in earnest this weekend is to be determined, but the Mets surely must know they’ll have another protean tool to add to their utility belt very soon.
Finding playing time for him among the likes of Amed Rosario, Jeff McNeil, Robinson Cano, J.D. Davis, and (gasp) Jed Lowrie might be the more considerable challenge.
