Highly regarded prospect Dominic Smith isn’t switching positions. He made his professional debut as an outfielder for Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday to give the Mets options if they lose another outfielder.
After an MRI revealed Juan Lagares had suffered a torn plantar plate in his left big toe and likely would miss the remainder of the season, Mets higher-ups decided to give Smith a few starts a week in the outfield. With Yoenis Cespedes (right hip flexor strain) also on the disabled list, the Mets are down to three healthy outfielders — Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto and Jay Bruce — with Phil Evans as an option in case anyone else gets hurt. Also, the Mets have a logjam at first base, with Adrian Gonzalez, Wilmer Flores and Bruce all capable of playing the position (and Double-A first baseman Peter Alonso increasingly emerging).
Smith has battled weight problems in the past, but he lost roughly 30 pounds this offseason and has kept the weight off.
“The way he’s been moving around, the way he’s been working, he’s a really good athlete,” manager Mickey Callaway said Sunday before the Mets completed a series sweep of the Diamondbacks with a 4-1 victory. “With the injuries we’ve had, it makes some sense for him to go out in right field and get some reps.
“This only gives Dom another option to be able to make it back up here and contribute.”
The 22-year-old Smith was back at first base on Sunday. In 35 games for Las Vegas, Smith has posted a .282/.392/.431 slash line and an .823 OPS, but has hit just two home runs. He was briefly called up when Bruce went on the paternity list on May 11, but didn’t get a start. Smith struggled after being promoted late last season, hitting just .198 with nine homers and 26 RBIs in 49 games.
Right-handed reliever Anthony Swarzak “is getting close” to facing hitters, according to Callaway. Swarzak, signed to a two-year, $14 million deal in the offseason, has been out since April 1 with a left oblique injury. Callaway said Swarzak would need several outings in a rehab assignment before he rejoins the team. Callaway said once Swarzak is back, the Mets could move Seth Lugo into the starting rotation if the starters other than Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom continue to struggle. Mets starting pitchers other than the big two have a 6.37 ERA.
“I think that Swarzak coming back can be an interesting dilemma for us or be a luxury for us, to be a little bit more aggressive with certain moves,” Callaway said.
Amed Rosario became the youngest Met (22 years, 181 days) to produce a multi-homer game since Lastings Milledge (22 years, 177 days) did it on Sept. 29, 2007. … The victory was the Mets’ 14th come-from-behind win, the third-most in baseball behind the Phillies (17) and Red Sox (15). … Robert Gsellman worked the final 1 2/3 innings for his first career save.
