Mets Spring Training: Position Battle at first base

For Mets first baseman Dominic Smith this is his chance.

 After a disappointing Major League debut where hit only .198 in 49 games, and was badly out of shape, the Mets sent Smith a direct message this winter when they signed veteran slugger Adrian Gonzalez. Show us something.

The Mets could have easily given up on Smith and just went out and handed free agent Eric Hosmer the deal he covets in free agency, but because of the slow market, or the Mets unwillingness to overpay for outside talent, the Mets are not going to give up on the 22-year old just yet.

The Mets battle at first base is going to be the story of camp.

One side is Smith, the young man who was the thunder for both Binghamton and Las Vegas the past two years down in the Mets farm system. Smith slugged 30 home runs, 63 doubles and drove in 167, while batting .315 in 2016 and 2017 respectfully.  The power, combined with the fact that he has 120 or more hits in each of the past four seasons, gave the Mets the vision that one day Smith could become that good in Flushing.

On the other side is Gonzalez, a 36-year old journeyman at this point in his career. The days when Gonzalez was one of baseballs most feared hitters is long past. Instead his days as a Red Sox and Padre are distant memories; a dying flame that the Mets are banking can be rekindled to give them something this season. In short Gonzalez had the career that Smith hopes to have one day.

While neither player will admit it, this is a competition after all; both will make the other better. Gonzalez is here for two reasons, to give the Mets a legitimate power bat in the middle of the order, and push Smith to fulfill his potential.

Since January, Smith has been down in Florida working out extensively at the Fischer Institute of Physical Therapy and Performance, where he reportedly dropped 30 pounds and weighs around 224. Now the key for him will be winning the job from Gonzalez.

Last year Smith was a middle-in type of hitter, where most of his hits and his best exit velocity came from. To become a complete hitter, Smith will need to expand that zone and start going the other way. There is nothing wrong with singles, doubles and walks. Carlos Delgado, and even Gonzalez did it for years.

Rest assured Gonzalez will be ready. He too is looking for redemption since last year’s disappointing effort with the LA Dodgers where he played in only 71 games and didn’t make the postseason roster. 2017 was the worst year of Gonzalez’s career, and as a prideful veteran, he is going to want to prove he can still be the guy that hit 28 home runs and drove in 90 back in 2015.

The question with Gonzalez, though, has Father Time finally come for him? He has not had a 100 RBI season since 2014, and has not hit close to 20 home runs since that aforementioned 2015 season.  If things don’t work out for Gonzalez, the Mets could let him go, or they could make him into a lefty- power bat off the bench, which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

Verdict: Barring an incredible spring training performance by Smith where he just blows Mickey Callaway out of his seat, chances are the Mets will send Smith back to the Minor’s to start the year and will go with Gonzalez at first. Expect Smith to be back in the Major’s certainly by June.