Mets hopeful Yoenis Cespedes and Jed Lowrie can engage in important roles

Overlook participating in through a pandemic remaining the most unlikely aspect of 2020.

Rather, it could be Yoenis Cespedes and Jed Lowrie both of those suiting up for the Mets this season.

Soon after viewing Cespedes take Seth Lugo deep in the course of Thursday’s intrasquad activity at Citi Area, basic manager Brodie Van Wagenen admitted it obtained him wondering about what the slugger could be able to do this year.

“Last 7 days, we talked about Cespedes and my optimism and I built the definitive statement that [he] can strike,’’ Van Wagenen explained all through a Zoom contact Friday. “What he’s shown in this article — and all people observed him hit the household operate in the intrasquad match — we’re really energized about what the impression of his bat can be.”

The GM and supervisor Luis Rojas observed Cespedes requirements to establish he can run the bases and play the outfield, but his bat is however there, which Van Wagenen claimed means the Mets “can commence to aspiration a little bit” about the slugger as he attempts to arrive again from several foot surgeries.

Cespedes is not the only fragile Satisfied Van Wagenen believes could possibly be in a position to add if a 2020 year is played throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

In that very same intrasquad sport Thursday, Lowrie doubled to deep center off Jacob deGrom in his initial video game motion due to the fact very last year.

“We’re starting up to get extra answers to questions we experienced when we entered camp,’’ Van Wagenen said. “And Jed is a little like Yoenis, demonstrating the quality of his at-bats has not declined with his layoff.”

But also like Cespedes, Lowrie has several hurdles to clear right before he’s truly activity-completely ready right after lacking most of past year with a mysterious leg harm.

“As he progresses, we’ll understand additional about his explosiveness and if he can run and participate in protection properly,’’ Van Wagenen mentioned. “But it is encouraging.”

Rojas did not even rule out the possibility of Lowrie participating in 3rd foundation at some stage in the course of the 60-match program.

But for a player who was limited to 7 at-bats in his 1st time in Queens immediately after signing a two-calendar year, $20 million offer, the Mets will no doubt just take some online games at DH from the 36-12 months-old. Jeff McNeil figures to be at third base, unless of course Robinson Cano, who has not been at spring training 2. in at the very least 3 days owing to unspecified motives, is unable to go.

“He’s constantly been able to handle the strike zone and work into circumstances wherever he will get deep into counts and has good quality at-bats,’’ reported Van Wagenen, Lowrie’s previous agent. “We observed [Thursday], the double off deGrom off a 3-2 depend and he labored a stroll in his next at bat. You’re gonna have to get Jed out. He’s not gonna get himself out.”

You just have to get him on the field.

The same could be reported of Cespedes the final two decades. He experienced surgery on both equally heels in 2018 and then sustained ankle fractures past yr adhering to an incident on his ranch involving a wild boar.

“From a hitting standpoint, we can all concur he’s on the lookout pretty very good,’’ Rojas mentioned. “His timing is there [and] the pitch recognition.”

But Cespedes has still to commence working the bases in video games and is said to be even further more absent from participating in the outfield.

“He’s been equipped to participate not only in what other men and women are doing, but he’s also carrying out additional work as he tries to rebuild energy,’’ Van Wagenen stated. “We’re enthusiastic with where he is at this level.”

Rojas is hoping there is additional to occur.

“He’s beneficial and quite protected about what he can do out there,’’ the supervisor mentioned. “Guys’ reaction [to the homer was] just that they know that’s what he can do. … He hit the homer and they reported, ‘That’s Yo.’ I’m excited about his frame of mind. He provides so considerably to the clubhouse. He’s a great existence. Cespedes is a drive. It is excellent that he’s in our corner and advancing day-to-day.”