Update:
Mets have activated IF Matt Reynolds and optioned LHP Sean Gilmartin to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Original Report
Infielder Matt Reynolds will be promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas in time for the start of the New York Mets’ series opener against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, as first reported by Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.
Reynolds 25, was hitting just .238 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 130 at-bats with Las Vegas, but he is on the 40 man roster which gave him a leg up on Ty Kelly and T.J. Rivera who are both out-performing him at Triple-A.
While Reynolds did appear on the NLDS and NLCS rosters last year, he has yet to have a major league appearance.
The Mets have been playing short a bench player since since Wilmer Flores went on the disabled list last week, so it’s expected that the Mets will option a reliever to Las Vegas to make room for Reynolds. Could come down to lefty Sean Gilmartin, who was promoted to cover the bullpen with Logan Verrett making a spot start in Colorado.
Reynolds was ranked at No. 21 among the MMO Top Prospects in March. Here is what our analyst Teddy Klein had to say about him.
Originally a third baseman in college due to a better shortstop existing, he was transitioned to shortstop in the Mets organization and started at Single-A Savannah in 2012. Offensively, he did not excel very well hitting .259/.335/.367 in Savannah and then .225/.300/.335 in St. Lucie. However, when he got to Binghamton in 2014, he hit .343/.405/.454 and stole 20 bases.
Last season, he did not light it up at Las Vegas, hitting .269/.321/.402, but he still has time to figure into the Met’s future. Reynolds doesn’t have much in the name of home run power, and he won’t probably hit more than 10, but he has an aggressive approach with a good right-handed swing that will produce hard line drives to any part of the field.
As for defense, his best spot might be 3rd base, but he could likely play any part of the infield in a pinch. As well, there has been talk of trying to use him in the outfield as well to make him more versatile. Time will tell if he can become a good super utility player in the long run for the team.
Projected 2016 Level: Will start at Triple-A and if he excels possibly becomes a utility player.
