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Yoenis Cespedes: Not just a designated hitter yet

By David Hill

PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Yoenis Cespedes #52 of the New York Mets checks his bat during the team workout at Clover Park on February 20, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Yoenis Cespedes #52 of the New York Mets checks his bat during the team workout at Clover Park on February 20, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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The expectation is that Yoenis Cespedes will be the New York Mets designated hitter, but he can still play defense as he showed on Tuesday.

Heading into the 2020 season, conventional wisdom holds that Yoenis Cespedes will primarily be deployed as a designated hitter for the New York Mets. He had missed the majority of the past three seasons, and all of 2019, due to injury, so such a plan would be the best way to keep him healthy.

But someone forgot to tell Cespedes that his day as an outfielder were dwindling. Instead, he was showing that he still can make plays in the outfield, with a behind the back catch during summer camp on Tuesday.

If Cespedes is feeling good enough about his body where he is goofing around a bit while catching fly balls, it is an excellent sign for the Mets moving forward. This provides the Mets with more depth in the outfield, as Cespedes could slot in left along with J.D. Davis and, potentially, the likes of Melky Cabrera.

More Mets. Cespedes expects to be healthy for Opening Day. light

While Cespedes has been an adventure in the outfield at times, defensive metrics are generally in favor of his performance. He has saved 12 runs during his time in left, with his strong throwing arm a deterrent for the vast majority of runners looking to take that extra base.

The major draw with Cespedes, despite his overall solid defense, is his offensive production. A lifetime .274/.328/.498 hitter, he has belted 163 homers and 172 doubles in his 3456 plate appearances. He was still an excellent hitter in his injury plagued 2017 and 2018, combining for a .282/.343/.525 batting line with 26 homers.

However, his last extended action came in May 2018. With just one game in the past two seasons, one has to wonder what Cespedes can contribute, either with the bat or the glove. He has displayed that pop in batting practice, and is showing some ability to play the outfield thus far. There is reason to be cautiously optimistic.

Next. The man that cannot be libeled against. dark

Yoenis Cespedes states that he will be 100% by Opening Day. If he feels comfortable to goof around in the outfield, he may be right.

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