Now that we’ve covered the starting pitchers, relief pitchers, catchers, and infielders, it is time to discuss how the Mets’ outfielders performed in the first half. Jeff McNeil has spent some time in left and right field, but since a majority of his playing time has come at second base, he has been left off this list.

Brandon Nimmo: B+

Brandon Nimmo signed an eight-year, $162 million contract in the off-season to stay with the Mets. It seemed like a great decision at the time, which has been proven to be correct with his performances on the field. Nimmo finished the first half slashing .266/.365/.442 with a 123 OPS+ in 401 plate appearances. While the batting average may not be as high as he would like, his on-base percentage ranks 23rd in all of baseball. Most importantly, he has been able to stay on the field, playing in 88 of a possible 90 games. That is all you can ask for from a center fielder who is in the prime of his career.

The most interesting aspect of Nimmo’s skillset is his recent power surge. Seven of 13 home runs this season have come in the last 22 games, although he is hitting .198 with 26 strikeouts during that stretch. He hit a career-high 17 home runs back in 2018, a record that could be broken by late July or early August. Nimmo has drastically improved in the field over the last two years, making home one of the more complete center fielders in the game.

Mark Canha. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Canha: C

Mark Canha has seen his playing time decrease with Tommy Pham becoming the everyday left fielder. Most players would allow that to affect their game, but that does not seem to be the case for the 34-year-old. While Canha has not been as impactful as he was a year ago, he has played his part in some big wins for the Mets so far this season. Plus, when Pete Alonso was on the injured list, the former Oakland Athletic filled in for him at first base.

Here is his first half in 2022 compared with his first half this year:

Plate appearances: 303 (2022) vs. 255 (2023)

Batting average: .269 (2022) vs. .242 (2023)

On-base percentage: .370 (2022) vs. .345 (2023)

Slugging percentage: .381 (2022) vs. .403 (2023)

OPS: .750 (2022) vs. .748 (2023)

Hits: 70 (2022) vs. 53 (2023)

It is a very small sample size, but Canha is slashing .333/.500/.833 with one home run, four runs batted in and three extra-base hits in the month of July. Yes, he has only made three starts and has a total of 16 plate appearances during that stretch, but his bat could be taken a step in the right direction. Canha could rediscover some of the magic he showed in 2022 if he is given more consistent playing time. It will be investing to see what Buck Showalter elects to do with his outfield alignment.

Many of his numbers are down this season. If Starling Marte continues to slump, Canha may see more playing time out in right field. Otherwise, he may find himself being the fourth outfielder in the second half, getting some opportunities as the right-handed option to compliment Daniel Vogelbach as a DH.

Starling Marte: D+

Starling Marte has some statistics that make it seem like he has been okay, but the more we look into the numbers, the more we realize how much he has struggled to carry over what he did so well in 2022. The outfielder is hitting .256 with a .309 on-base percentage, but his power has been non-existent. Marte only has five home runs, a .336 slugging percentage, and a .644 OPS in 326 plate appearances. In comparison, he was slashing .295/.345/.458 with nine home runs and 41 runs batted in at the end of the first half last season. His power is nowhere near what it was in his first season with the Mets.

His 23 stolen bases are what save his grade from being even lower, as he is on pace to steal 40+ bags for the fourth time in his career. But other than that, it has been an underwhelming season for Marte. If he is unable to pick it up, the Mets may have no choice but to decrease his playing time. That would open the door for Canha, who has lost his spot as an everyday player.

Tommy Pham: A

When the Mets signed Tommy Pham to a one-year, $6 million deal in the off-season, I don’t think many expected him to be this impactful. The outfielder was brought in to be the team’s fourth outfielder, but he went ahead of earned an everyday spot. Pham has been the best hitter of the team for the last four to six weeks, forcing the team to move him all the way up to the two-hole. He is slashing .325/.398/.494 with three home runs, 11 runs batted in, and nine walks over his last 22. At the age of 35, Pham is having one of the best seasons of his 10-year career.

Pham leads the team in batting average (.277), OPS (.836), and OPS+ (129). He has been everything the Mets could have asked for and then some. If the team elects to sell at the deadline, Pham is one of the few players who will draw interest from other teams. In the same way, if the Mets are able to go on a run in the second half, he will be at the forefront of their success. Pham has been phenomenal in 2023, earning him the best grade among all four outfielders on this list.

Previous report cards: Starting Pitchers, Catchers, Infielders