New York Mets: Yoenis Cespedes’ return might be the best news this year
By Alex Jordan
New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is back and played on Friday against the New York Yankees. His return couldn’t have come at a better time.
Hey look who’s back with the Mets Yo! The New York Mets activated outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from the disabled list on Friday and he was the Mets’ designated hitter in Friday night’s game against the New York Yankees, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
Cespedes hasn’t played a game in the majors since May 13 due to a right quad and hip flexor injuries. He began his latest rehab assignment on Tuesday in the Gulf Coast League.
On Wednesday, he played first base for the first time in his career, going 1-4 with a three-run home run. Cespedes has told the Mets that he’s open to playing first base, assistant GM John Rico told Mollie Walker of the New York Post.
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However, the Mets aren’t planning on having Cespedes play first base when he returns.
Mets manager Mickey Callaway went on to tell Walker:
"“Right now our focus is to get him back to the big leagues as a left fielder and let him do some ground balls while he is in rehab, he is definitely taking some ground balls over [at first base] just to kind of initially evaluate where he’s at and if it’s even an option for this year.”"
Regardless of where Cespedes plays, his return might be the best news for the Mets this year.
Cespedes’s return will be a huge boost for the Mets lineup which lost Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier to injuries recently. The outfielder could help the Mets get back on track and winning games.
The Mets were 19-18 with Cespedes in the lineup, but since he went on the disabled list they are 20-37.
Before going on the disabled list, Cespedes was hitting .255 with eight home runs, 28 RBIs and a .790 OPS , so the Mets should be back to winning games and not losing games now that he’s back.
Cespedes’s return has cost Dominic Smith a spot on the roster as the Mets recalled right-hander Drew Smith from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned Dominic Smith and right-hander Corey Oswalt to Las Vegas.
Dominic Smith was struggling as he was hitting .183 with one home run and one RBI. Drew Smith was 5-1 with three saves and a 2.68 ERA. Oswalt was 0-2 with a5.64 ERA.
Cespedes homered and singled during Friday night’s game as the Mets beat the Yankees 7-5.
After Friday’s game, Yo is hitting .262 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs. However, Cespedes’ return could be short as he dropped a bombshell Friday night saying that he might need surgery.
Yo said, per Kevin Kernan of the New York Post:
"“I realize what is causing my problems are my heels, when I feel some pain on my heels, I started to modify my walking, my running, even my standing. That’s the main cause I am having [of] these problems in my leg.The only way that I can avoid my heels from keep bothering me or getting me hurt is having the surgery.I’m still thinking about [having the surgery] because the recovery process takes 8-to-10 months.’’"
Losing Cespedes to surgery would be bad for the Mets. He is one of their best players and could help the Mets get back to winning. If Cespedes has surgery then the Mets will continue to struggle and lose games.
The Mets are having a disastrous season as they 40-56 and are in last place in the NL East. Cespedes’s return is too late for the Mets to make a playoff run, but he can help them turn things around and help the Mets have a respectable record at the end of the season.
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His return is probably the best news the Mets have had all year, while him saying that he might have surgery is the worst news the Mets could have gotten.