Omir Santos has become a keeper for Jerry Manuel.
Santos is the Mets’ third catcher. He was promoted from Triple-A only when starter Brian Schneider went on the disabled list. But Santos has now appeared in the same number of games as second-string backstop Ramon Castro, and Santos continues to dazzle.
Yesterday, Santos delivered two hits, including a key two-run single, and also threw out a runner trying to steal. He’s hitting .300 (12-for-40) with a home run and eight RBIs, and he has thrown out four of 11 runners.
So even when Schneider returns from the DL, Santos isn’t necessarily a goner.
“I didn’t say Omir was going back to the minors. Omir is going to stay right here. For as long as he’s doing what he’s doing, he’ll stay here,” Manuel said after yesterday’s 8-4 win over the Pirates. “I don’t know what we’re going to do when that situation presents itself, but right now, he’s doing a tremendous job.”
So it seems that unless Santos begins taking 0-fers and allowing basestealers to run wild, he’ll stick when Schneider comes back. The Mets still have time before their hand is forced — Schneider isn’t running or playing games yet.
“He would need to get up to catching nine innings before coming here,” Manuel said. Keeping Santos, 28, would mean the Mets carry three catchers, though whom they’d get rid of instead is a mystery. Perhaps outfielder Jeremy Reed would be most expendable.
Between Santos and Castro (.292, two homers, eight RBIs), the Mets are getting excellent production from their catchers. Santos has the same number of RBIs as Ryan Church, though Church has had 51 more at-bats.
Santos’ big hit yesterday came in the fourth, when he drove a two-run single to right, putting the Mets ahead for good. He ended the sixth by catching leadoff man Nyjer Morgan trying to steal second.
