Uncustomed Heroes of 2023: Mets

 

For the second year in a row, the New York Mets came into the season with high expectations, and completely crumbled under the pressure of them. They not only procured Justin Verlander, but also Japanese fireballer Kodai Senga; at the very least, Senga ended the year with them. The Mets had so much heading into the year, and slowly it was all whittled away over the course of the season. They lost Verlander, first to injuries and then to Houston, they lost Pham and Robertson and Canha, and they even got lapped by Miami. By the end, Buck Showalter, who'd just won Manager of the Year, was out of a job, and the team was struggling to recoup and deliver anything intimidating going into another season.

So, in summation, not as bad as the hero going down in the first quarter of the first game, but close.

The best way many Mets fans have summed up their 2023 season is through the team's DH, Dan Vogelbach. The team kept him on to power hit. Vogelbach proceeded to...not hit. In 104 games he hit .233 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs. Remember, he hit 18 last year, and was actually performing as a power bat between Pittsburgh in New York. Last year's Uncustomed Heroes, I predicted he'd reach 30 homers and become a fan favorite. He did not. Many Mets fans were referring to Vogelbach, a designated hitter that could not hit, as one of the worst Mets of all time. 

2023 Prediction: As much as I want to say that nobody would ever sign him, someone's going to. And...it has to be an improvement, right?

Tylor Megill, for years I'd say, has been on the cusp of greatness but has either been too injured or too inconsistent to really jump on it. Megill, due to the other injuries in the rotation, got 25 starts this year, and went 9-8 with a 4.70 ERA and 105 Ks. Not the most impressive starting guy for the Mets this year, but one of the more consistent ones, sort of by default.

2024 Prediction: 2024 will be Megill's best season. It may also be his way out of New York.

As I predicted last year, the Mets re-signed Adam Ottavino, and the 37-year-old relief veteran continued his excellent late-career run, with a 3.21 ERA and 12 saves in 66 games. Ottavino has been one of the best relievers in his class for the past decade, and if the broadcasting appearances are any indication, he may be thinking about his post-career options.

2024 Prediction: Yeah, I think he's throwing in the towel. OR...or the Mets re-sign him. I think he wants to retire as a Met, and if the Mets don't want him, he might just retire to the broadcast booth.

With the flurry of injuries and trades, a lot of the infield spots were taken by rookies in the latter half of the year. Brett Baty was the highest-publicized one, he was a prospect from last year that got more opportunities in 2023. In 109 games he hit .212 with 34 RBIs and 9 homers. As he's only 23, the hope is that he grows into bigger years.

2024 Prediction: Holds onto 3rd all year and finally shifts into his potential.

Mark Vientos, meanwhile, was the go-to rookie at third, and DH if they didn't want to risk Vogey. Vientos hit .211 and hit 22 RBIs and 9 homers in 65 games.

2024 Prediction: Of the rookie infielders, I think Vientos will have the hardest time finding a regular position going forward.

Then, the Mets brought up mega-prospect Ronny Mauricio late in the year, and unlike a lot of people in this post, he delivered on everything that was reported about him. Through 26 games, Mauricio had 25 hits, 9 RBIs 7 stolen bases and 2 home runs, proving himself right from the start as an engaging, exciting, fast-as-hell player the Mets could build on. During the offseason, Mauricio tore his ACL, and will probably miss the entirety of the 2024 season, because if luck shines on the Mets for more than 5 seconds it's apparently a sin.

2025 Prediction: Lindor-Mauricio will eventually become one of the best double play combos in baseball. Get ready.

Coming Tomorrow- I think I have the most Nationals of any team this month.