Brandon Nimmo has been able to stay on the field for Mets this season
The Mets' Brandon Nimmo scores a run during the third inning of a game against Atlanta on Aug. 7 at Citi Field. Credit: AP/Julia Nikhinson
PHILADELPHIA — Brandon Nimmo may still be slumping, hitting .243 with fewer walks and less power than usual from the All-Star break to the start of the weekend, but he has impressed the Mets and pleased himself anyway with great strides in another area: dependability.
Batting leadoff and manning centerfield Friday night in the opener of a four-game series with the Phillies, Nimmo played in his 111th game of the season. That is the second-highest total of his career.
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PHILADELPHIA — Brandon Nimmo may still be slumping, hitting .243 with fewer walks and less power than usual from the All-Star break to the start of the weekend, but he has impressed the Mets and pleased himself anyway with great strides in another area: dependability.
Batting leadoff and manning centerfield Friday night in the opener of a four-game series with the Phillies, Nimmo played in his 111th game of the season. That is the second-highest total of his career.
“It’s been a point of emphasis for me, and I am extremely proud of it,” Nimmo said. “And it’s something that we’ve been checkmarking as OK, this is something we wanted to improve on or at least give our best effort at. I think it’s something we’ve done well up to this point. But still, we’re not finished. I want to make sure that we’re prepared for every single game and doing it. I’ve been very happy with how we’ve been preparing the body and getting it ready for the day.”
Manager Buck Showalter has noticed, too.
“You’re seeing a player really understand playing with a certain face a little bit more, just really maturing as a baseball player,” he said. “It’s been fun to watch him, especially some of the things I’d heard in the past, some things that had been a challenge for him [staying on the field] but that he seems to have been able to overcome so far.”
Special delivery
With four games in less than 48 hours, the Mets loaded up on pitchers — potential promotees, if needed — on their taxi squad: David Peterson (who will start Saturday), Jose Butto, Nate Fisher and Rob Zastryzny.
That meant an additional task, according to Showalter, for reliever Tommy Hunter, who was on his way to Philly on Friday night: Bringing with him from New York the uniforms for the new guys in case they’re also added to the roster.
The Mets plan to activate Hunter (lower-back tightness) from the injured list Sunday, the first day he is eligible.
Personnel news
The Mets activated utility infielder Yolmer Sanchez, claimed off waivers from the Red Sox on Thursday, and designated Deven Marrero for assignment. Marrero went 0-for-4 in four days as the Mets’ initial replacement for the injured Luis Guillorme.
Nick Plummer cleared waivers and the Mets sent him to Triple-A Syracuse.
Minors details
Catcher Kevin Parada, the Mets’ top draft pick last month, made his professional debut Friday, going 2-for-3 with a walk for the rookie-level Florida Complex League Mets.
Shortstop Jett Williams, their other first-rounder, debuted last week and is hitting .240 with a .795 OPS (plus four steals in four tries in eight games).
Extra bases
Tyler Naquin went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts and seven runners left on base in the Mets’ 7-2 win over the Phillies . . . The Mets had not made a decision as of Friday night about whether Taijuan Walker (bulging disc) will pitch Sunday . . . Trevor Williams will face Zack Wheeler in the first game of the doubleheader Saturday, followed by David Peterson-Bailey Falter in the nightcap . . . Showalter said the club is optimistic about Carlos Carrasco (strained left oblique) following his first several days of rehab. They initially said he’d be out at least three weeks. “Hoping we can shorten some of that projection of his being gone,” Showalter said.