New York Mets top prospect shortstop Andres Gimenez caught up with Metsmerized in a phone interview to discuss the uncertainty of the 2020 Major League Baseball season caused by covid-19 and how he’s staying ready in the meantime.
Gimenez talked about the biggest changes brought on by these current restrictions and how he is dealing with the challenges of not being able to work out with his team.
“A lot has changed, and our routines are affected being unable to use the team facilities,” Gimenez told Metsmerized. “We are stuck doing individual workouts at home instead of together as a team.”
Gimenez also touched on the mental aspect of not playing right now after spending the winter down in spring training ramping things up to be ready for a full season.
“I think these circumstances affects all players mentally because we were prepared to play a season but have to wait so instead, we have to put that energy into our training.”
The 21-year-old has been in the Mets system since 2016 and is currently ranked in three of the major top 100 prospect lists for MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, and Baseball Prospectus. He was set to begin the 2020 season at Triple-A Syracuse before play was suspended in mid-March.
After not getting off to the hottest start at the plate in Double-A Binghamton last season, Gimenez discussed the adjustments he made offensively, which saw him lead the Arizona Fall League in hitting with a .371 batting average to go along with his .413 on-base percentage and .586 slugging percentage knocking in 15 RBIs in 18 games.
“I spent two weeks on the injured list last June, but once I came back, I started using my leg kick and saw some success that carried over to the Fall League. I was also swinging at better pitches and making good contact,” said Gimenez, who slashed .261/305/.441 the rest of the year.
While he is typically known for his glove, the youngster made it a priority to put on some weight in the form of muscle this off-season, which as a result saw his bat produce more pop in the spring. Gimenez went 6-for-28 at the plate but displayed his gap-to-gap power and also smacked a game-winning home run in an exhibition matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Photo by Bill Mitchell
“This was the goal I had after last season ended. I went into the offseason with one goal in mind, to change my eating and exercising habits. On top of this, I was working out hard every day and putting on muscle,” said Gimenez.
Although the 2020 season is up in the air, Gimenez discussed where he fits and what he would bring to the major league roster if he winds up getting his chance this year.
“Wherever they need me I’ll be there. It’s out of my hands and I can’t control when they call me up, but I’ll be ready whenever they do,” said Gimenez who is a plus defender with speed that can play both spots in the middle of the infield.
“My patience and my passion for the game allows me to go out there every day and perform to the best of my ability to help the team win.”
Gimenez has found himself in a unique log jam situation at the shortstop position in the Mets organization playing between talented Single-A star Ronny Mauricio and big-league starter Amed Rosario, but he still sees this as a positive.
“They are excellent players and teammates and motivate everyone around them to do their best,” said Gimenez. “Rosario talks to me a lot about the game and always seems to give the right advice whenever I have questions.”
Unfortunately, when the season does resume, the Mets will be without co-ace pitcher Noah Syndergaard until 2021 after he underwent Tommy John surgery in March. Gimenez expressed his disappointment in the club losing a player of Syndergaard’s caliber for the foreseeable future.
“He’s a great pitcher at the top of our rotation and it’s sad to see him go down like that,” said Gimenez. “I wish him all the best and a speedy recovery.”
“At this point, for the players and team, our main concern is to stay healthy and get past this obstacle of the coronavirus.”
“We all have an obligation to stay healthy and be ready to go when play resumes. I think Major League Baseball has definitely taken good care of us minor leaguers and the rest of their big-league players, coaches, and employees during this stoppage of play.”
