It is now official – New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is out for the entire 2019 campaign.
The timetable as to whether or not Yoenis Cespedes would return to the New York Mets in 2019 was always in flux. He had undergone surgery on both of his heels, and was slated to be sidelined for most, if not all, of the season. Yet, the Mets held out hope that he would eventually return to the lineup this season, at some nebulous date in the future.
However, those hopes were officially dashed on Thursday. After breaking his ankle in several places on Monday, Cespedes had surgery, which will officially sideline the outfielder for the 2019 campaign.
#Mets announce that Cespedes underwent surgery today and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Interesting that on press release the team did not announce what kind of surgery.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) May 23, 2019
Even if the Mets are playing coy as to what the surgery was for, it is easy to read between the lines. After all, Cespedes did break his ankle in multiple places earlier this week after he stepped into a hole on his ranch. It’s pretty easy to see what this surgery could have entailed.
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Understandably, the Mets were hoping that Cespedes could be a key part of the lineup in the second half of the season. During his last healthy season, which came in 2016, he posted a solid .280/.354/.530 batting line, hitting 31 homers and 25 doubles in 534 plate appearances. That production is sorely needed in the Mets lineup.
However, since signing his four year, $110 million extension following that season, he has been unable to remain healthy. From 2017 through this season, Cespedes has appeared in just 119 games. While his .282/.343/.525 batting line with 26 homers and 23 doubles in 478 plate appearances is close to his 2016 production, that came across three seasons.
Perhaps next season will be different. With an entire year away from the diamond, Cespedes should be able to get healthy, and be ready to contribute in 2020. He also has the added incentive of being in a contract season next year, and will be looking for that next payday.
Yoenis Cespedes may be able to help the New York Mets in 2020. However, he will not see the diamond this year, as surgery has ended his season.