Brandon Nimmo comes off the bench, crushes walk-off home run, completes comeback win

And what can the Mets do about their reserve infielder roster spot?

Justin Mears

May 13, 2024

What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️

The Mets salvaged the series finale with Atlanta on Sunday night, defeating the Braves 4-3 (Box)
Down 3-2 in the 9th, the Mets won the game on one big swing from Brandon Nimmo, who connected for a two-run walk-off homer off Atlanta southpaw A.J. Minter
Nimmo did not start the game, after leaving Saturday’s contest with intercostal discomfort, but came off the bench as a pinch-runner and then delivered his 2nd career walk-off home run in his first at-bat
D.J. Stewart started in place of Nimmo and collected two hits and reached base in three of his four plate appearances
Pete Alonso had two hits and drove in two runs in the game
Bullpen standout Reed Garrett came up big yet again, firing two scoreless frames and striking out three in the middle innings
The Mets earned their fourth walk-off win of the year and their 11th come-from-behind win of the season. They’re 10-7 at home, have six wins in their last at-bat, 2-16 when trailing after eight innings, 3-3 against the NL East, 13-4 when allowing three or fewer runs, 14-7 when scoring four or more runs, and 7-4 in one-run games

Injury Updates 🏥

RHP Tylor Megill (Shoulder strain) threw 5.1 IP and allowed seven hits, no earned runs and no walks with six strikeouts for Triple-A Syracuse
RHP Kodai Senga (shoulder capsule injury) is experiencing no pain, but will refrain from throwing progression as he continues to work out some mechanical problems

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Down on the Farm 🌾

Luisangel Acuna (Triple-A Syracuse): 2-for-5, 2 R
Kevin Parada (Double-A Binghamton): 1-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 K
Nick Morabito (Single-A Brooklyn): 3-for-4, 1 R

BOX SCORES

Single-A STL | Single-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR

Today’s Game 🗓

Match-up: Phillies (28-13) @ Mets (19-20)

Where: Citi Field — Flushing, NY

Starters: LHP Christopher Sanchez (2-3, 3.22 ERA) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (2-1, 3.31 ERA)

When: 7:10 PM EDT

Where to Watch: SNY

The Mets need to rethink their backup infielder role… ✍️

When the Mets chose to nontender veteran utility infielder Luis Guillorme, it wasn’t alarming, but it was certainly curious.

In 334 games over six years with the Mets, it had become abundantly clear what Guillorme was offensively. He slashed .261/.344/.333 with only 40 extra-base hits in a New York uniform, and was obviously never someone opposing pitchers feared.

But Guillorme was an elite defensive infielder at three different positions.

Former manager Buck Showalter was vocal during his Mets tenure that Guillorme deserved to win the utility Gold Glove award. The ‘Bearded Magician’ was also a consensus fan favorite, and someone with a lot of built-up equity with the Flushing faithful.

Even so, when the Mets decided to move on and go in a different direction, it wasn’t shocking. But when they brought in Joey Wendle and Zack Short to compete for the reserve infielder role he vacated, it was frustrating. Wendle had just hit .212 for the Marlins in 2023, is five years older than Guillorme, and possesses an inferior glove.

In 33 at-bats with the Mets, he’s done very little, slashing .242/.265/.273, while defensively committing three errors and memorably throwing the ball to the wrong place in a game with the Cubs a couple weeks ago.

Then there’s Short, who also made the Mets coming out of spring training when J.D. Martínez wasn’t quite ready to head north. He didn’t get much playing time with the Mets, and logged only one hit in nine at-bats, and swiftly was DFA’d when Martinez was activated. He’s already with his third organization of 2024, as the Mets traded him to Boston who then shipped him to Atlanta to replace Guillorme whom the Braves decided to move on from.

The disappointing performance of the reserve infielders the Mets have utilized here in 2024 has been glaring, but it’s not too late for the team to right the wrong.

New York also brought in veteran Major League shortstop Jose Iglesias this winter who has been an all-star in the past, and has always carried a reputation as a skilled defender. Iglesias was never considered a standout offensive player, but his .279/.319/.382 career slash line is more encouraging than any of the names I’ve mentioned above.

And with Triple-A Syracuse, Iglesias is starting to open some eyes. In his first 28 games of the season, he’s slashing .278/.322/.472 with six homers, 18 RBI, and three doubles.

Iglesias would not necessarily be looked at as an envelope mover should the Mets decide to bring him to the Majors, but he would in my opinion be a legitimate upgrade from what the team has been running out there.

Around the League 🚩

Carlos Santana homered and drove in three runs in the Twins 5-1 win over the Blue Jays
Ketel Marte knocked in three runs in the Diamondbacks 9-2 rout of Baltimore
The Marlins topped the Phillies 7-6, plating the winning run on a walk-off knock from Emmanuel Rivera in the 10th
Aaron Judge delivered two hits including a home run in the Yankees 10-6 win against the Rays
Ex-Met Seth Lugo went eight innings and struck out a career high 12 hitters en route to his 6th victory of the season as the Royals defeated the Angels 4-2