Earlier this offseason, the Mets addressed their need for a defensive-minded outfielder by acquiring Jake Marisnick from the Astros. Like Juan Lagares, Marisnick provides a stellar glove, but offers limited production at the plate. So, is Marisnick nothing more than a bench piece, or does he have potential for a more important role on the 2020 Mets?
Since his debut in 2013, Marisnick ranks among the game’s best defensive outfielders. He owns a career Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) of 28.5, and he has saved 71 runs with his glove, according to Defensive Runs Saved (DRS).
According to Fangraphs, his 71 DRS puts him inside the top ten of all MLB outfielders over past seven years:
It’s impressive to see Marisnick rank alongside defenders like Starling Marte and Alex Gordon, especially when they’ve had more time to accumulate a higher DRS. For example, Alex Gordon has only saved nine more runs than Marisnick, despite playing in almost four thousand more innings.
But it’s not just the numbers that show that Marisnick is an elite fielder. By just watching him play, you can see that he has excellent range and an uncanny ability to make highlight reel plays. In an article by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Marisnick was credited for making three of the Astros top ten defensive plays of the decade.
One web gem that really stands out was his Carlos Beltran-esque catch on Tal’s Hill. Marisnick sprinted toward deep centerfield and made a spectacular diving grab. You can watch the highlight below:
This excellent fielding ability makes the 28-year-old a solid fit for a Mets’ team that struggled so badly on defense in 2019. Out of all MLB teams, the Mets -93 DRS ranked as the second worst, ahead of only the 54-108 Orioles.
However, as exciting as Marisnick’s defense might be, he shouldn’t receive a starting role because of his poor production at the plate. Sure, Marisnick’s .815 OPS in 2017 looks enticing, but he never replicated that production again.
Marisnick regressed with a combined .224/.283/.406 triple slash line in 2018 and 2019 , and he hit ten homeruns each season. These numbers are what fans should expect from Marisnick in 2020, as they are more in line with his career OPS of .660 and OPS+ of 79.
Steamer projects that Marisnick will hit .218/.279/.389 with ten home runs, and have just a 0.1 WAR. Meanwhile, ZiPS projections are slightly more favorable, with a 1.0 WAR and a .225/.282/.407 slash line.
Overall, Marisnick is a prototypical fourth outfielder. He provides value as a defensive replacement late in games, but he doesn’t hit enough to warrant everyday playing time. Marisnick is only here for his glove, so anything that he can provide on offense is a bonus.
