New York Mets: Yoenis Cespedes has disappeared

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 26: Yoenis Cespedes #52 of the New York Mets in action against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on July 26, 2020 in New York City. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Braves defeated the Mets 14-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 26: Yoenis Cespedes #52 of the New York Mets in action against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on July 26, 2020 in New York City. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Braves defeated the Mets 14-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Yoenis Cespedes did not show up at the ballpark for the New York Mets contest against the Atlanta Braves. At this point, no one knows where he is.

When the New York Mets entered the dugout on Sunday, something was missing. Yoenis Cespedes, who had been serving as the Mets’ designated hitter through the beginning of the year, was not in the dugout. Even when the first pitch was made, Cespedes was not there.

As it turns out, no one knows where Cespedes is. The Mets have been unable to make contact with the former All Star slugger, putting out a press release stating that Cespedes has not been in touch with the organization.

On the positive side, the Mets did state that they feel Cespedes is healthy, as they do not have any reason to currently believe that he is in any danger or that his safety is in question.

light. More Mets. Cespedes first DH to homer in NL game

It is uncertain as to what has led to this outburst. Cespedes, despite his struggles in the early going, had been in the starting lineup for the Mets’ first eight games of the season. In that time, he has posted a .161/.235/.387 batting line, hitting two homers in his 34 plate appearances, but also striking out 15 times.

Cespedes was out of the lineup originally on Sunday, replaced by J.D. Davis as the Mets’ designated hitter. However, that did not mean that his spot in the lineup was lost, as manager Luis Rojas had expressed his intention to keep Cespedes in the lineup going forward. Sunday was essentially a day off, a chance to get his head right and not press in the batter’s box.

At this point, it is just speculation as to whether or not that removal from the lineup set Cespedes off and caused him to vanish. But he has been around long enough to understand that results matter. That is especially true in such a short season, where the Mets need all production they can get. A day off should not have spurred such a reaction.

Jed Lowrie - a good idea gone wrong. dark. Next

Hopefully, Yoenis Cespedes is okay and will be in contact with the New York Mets. Until that happens, it is anyone’s guess as to why he has disappeared.