New York Mets: Dominic Smith Shows Benefits of a Good Night of Sleep
By Dylan Smith
Dominic Smith, the forgotten top-prospect of the New York Mets, has had a hot start to Spring Training. What has fueled his performance?
As a college student, I often find myself feeling the effects of sleepless nights. Whether they are induced by ” late night activities” or last-minute cramming kindled by a seemingly unending stream of exams, I can attest to the “mental fog” that inevitably follows. I need to learn a lesson from Dominic Smith, the forgotten top-prospect of the New York Mets, as he has shown how a good night of sleep can improve personal performance.
The 23-year old came into spring looking trim and rejuvenated. Over his first eight games, the lefty has recorded an impressive slash line of .500/.565/.700 while playing with an extra spring in his step. We are left to wonder, what has helped Smith improve?
The former first-round pick attributes his hot start to better sleep.
According to the Daily News, Dominic Smith suffers from sleep apnea, a disorder that interrupts the bodies breathing pattern during sleep.
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In year’s past, Smith suffered the effects of many sleepless nights, but he now sleeps with a CPAP device. This device allows him to sleep soundly and awake well rested and ready to take on his daily challenges.
Smith has said that his head is now clear and that he comes to the ballpark with more energy. Judging by his results so far, the CPAP device has clearly helped with his on-field performance.
“What I would perceive as a 103 mph fastball would actually be 95 (mph),” Smith told the Daily News.
Manager of the New York Mets, Mickey Callaway, has also noticed an improvement in Smith’s play.
“This is a special thing that we’re getting to see right now. We haven’t seen this from him, so he does look like he’s in a better spot than he has been.”
Smith came into Spring Training as an afterthought, but his play has forced his name into the conversation for a spot on the Opening Day roster. With Todd Fraizer sidelined and Pete Alonso likely to start the year in Triple-A (service time), it is starting to seem like we will see Smith at first base for the New York Mets on Opening Day.
Could we see Dominic Smith at first base over the long term?
I don’t think so, as Alonso seems to be the Mets’ heir to the position, but management now should be comfortable in sending Pete Alonso to Triple-A Syracuse to open the season. One extra year of team control is valuable and the Mets should be able to run with Smith until late April/early May without sacrificing value from the position. Mickey Callaway could then pair Smith and Alonso together, forming a nice righty/lefty platoon.
Who knows, maybe Smith might even regain some of his trade value?
The New York Mets are committed to winning in the present, which might call for a mid-season acquisition. The Mets are a team without a deep farm system, could they form a trade around Smith? If he continues to produce, I don’t see why not.
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While Dominic Smith’s improvements will not greatly affect the Mets’ fortunes in 2019, it is nice to see some value resurface from a seemingly sunk prospect.