Deservedly so, Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil get a lot of credit for making the New York Mets offense go. However, an under the radar bat has been helping carry the load lately.
Winners of five out of eight since the MLB All-Star break, the New York Mets have been playing their best baseball since May.
All-Stars Pete Alonso, Jacob deGrom and Jeff McNeil have been their normal, steady selves. After Saturday’s 2-5 effort, McNeil is hitting .345, the highest mark in Major League Baseball.
DeGrom’s latest start, seven innings of shutout, three-hit baseball at Oracle Park vs. the San Francisco Giants, lowered his ERA and WHIP to 3.02 and 1.107, respectively.
The performance of these three players cannot be understated, but there is another Met that should be catching your eye: shortstop Amed Rosario.
Since the All-Star break, Rosario is hitting a cool .448 (13-29). Hitting .260 entering the second half, this hot stretch has raised his season average to .274.
The 23-year-old’s .309 OBP and .434 SLG also represent career-highs. His 10 home runs have already topped 2018’s mark (nine) and he will soon surpass last season’s RBI total.
While not a perfect measure, WAR is a good barometer to use to reflect a player’s impact on his team. Through 95 games in 2019, Rosario has accumulated 0.5 bWAR, nearly half his career total of 1.2.
Fangraphs is even higher on Rosario, placing him at 0.8 fWAR in 2019.
Long criticized by Mets fans for his lack of development at the plate, Rosario is making strides right in front of our eyes.
Possessing a top-heavy lineup, the speedy shortstop is giving the Mets some much-needed depth. Receiving at-bats in the leadoff spot earlier this season, he has been hitting in the six through eight spots in the order since the break.
With McNeil, Michael Conforto and Alonso generally hitting in the top-three spots, Rosario’s presence toward the bottom of the order has been vital to the club’s offensive uptick.
One of the top prospects in baseball since the Mets signed him out of the Dominican Republic, Rosario’s first nearly two seasons in the majors were a little underwhelming.
If his recent success is any indication, it appears as if he has turned a corner.
Rosario and the Mets will look to keep rolling on Sunday against the Giants.
Steven Matz (5-6, 4.87 ERA) will face LHP Drew Pomeranz (2-9, 6.10). First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET.
