Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
J.D. Davis has played 13 games for the Syracuse Mets and 14 games for the New York Mets.
Davis was the majority starter at third base in 2020. He’s now missed two and a half months of major league action with a sprained left hand. For 73 games the Mets filled the position with Jonathan Villar (49 games), Luis Guillorme (17), Brandon Drury (4), and Jose Peraza (4). Davis is ready to return. Does he regain his starting role?
Before Davis’ injury on May 1 he accumulated 14 starts in 21 games. During the opening 10 games of the Mets season, he only started three. Davis found himself entrenched in a timeshare with Villar and Guillorme. But his bat heated up and the Mets couldn’t leave him on the bench. From April 19 to May 1 he started every game but one.
The 28-year-old slashed an impressive .390/.470/.610 line over 14 starts. He launched two home runs, drove in seven runs, and scored five runs. It was better than any stretch he had in 2020 when he batted .247 in 56 games. Davis batted .307 in 140 games in 2019.
In Syracuse, Davis’ bat continued to smash. Against Triple-A competition he slashed .306/.457/.667. He swatted three home runs in 36 at-bats and increased his walk rate.
Davis played in four games during his initial rehab assignment in May. He resumed in-game activity on July 1. In his last game for Syracuse, July 13, he went 4-for-6 with a home run and two doubles.
Davis is set to return Friday.
Filling in, Villar has done an admirable job. The 30-year-old has provided steady offense, speed on the basepaths, and flashed some leather at the hot corner. His OPS+ is 107, above league average.
Villar was signed by the Mets for his positional versatility off the bench. He had been an everyday player since 2016 with starts at shortstop, second base, and third base. Villar is two years removed from his best season as a pro.
Guillorme had fans clamoring he gets the starting third base spot in Spring Training. He boasts an incredible glove, making difficult plays for Davis look routine. At the plate, his discipline and knowledge of the strike zone combine to make a tough out.
Guillorme injured himself in the same game as Davis. He strained his right oblique after coming in as an injury replacement. To that point, he served as a late-inning defensive replacement. Guillorme returned on June 11 after six rehab games in Syracuse. He started 10 straight games while Villar nursed a calf strain in late June.
When Davis joined the Mets in 2019 he made 79 of his 109 starts in left field. Thirty-one were made at third and one as the designated hitter. In 2020 he played zero games in left, 34 at third, and DH’d 13 times.
The Mets will find ways to put their best batters on the field. Dominic Smith moved to left field with no National League DH this season. Jeff McNeil played the outfield for 30 games in 2020 while Robinson Cano played second base. The Mets even started James McCann at first base this year.
Is Davis the best defensive option at third base? No. Does he have the better bat for a team that’s struggled offensively all season? Yes.
We are 17 days from the trade deadline. Nothing except speculation has appeared. Davis could be on the move if the Mets attempt to solidify his position. He could be an intriguing option for a team trying to rebuild or keep its payroll flexible. Davis has three years of arbitration remaining on his contract.
Likely the Mets shift back to their opening day plan with Davis healthy. Davis will play the first six or seven innings and Guillorme comes in as a defensive replacement. Villar will rotate through the infield during scheduled days off. He’ll provide a solid bat and speed off the bench.
Davis’ value lies in his hitting ability. If he slumps he could find his way out of the lineup quicker than most.
