The New York Mets’ lineup suffered a setback as they prepared to face the Boston Red Sox and try to catch the Atlanta Braves in the wild-card chase. Nonetheless, the blow was a pleasant one.
J.D. Martinez was placed on the paternity list on Monday, so the Mets summoned up an experienced outfielder from Triple-A Syracuse to replace him.
The Mets have recalled DJ Stewart
According to Anthony Dicomo of MLB.com, the Mets have recalled outfielder DJ Stewart from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Martinez’s roster position.
Stewart is a second-half hero in 2023 for the blue and orange, which earned him a roster berth on opening day despite a poor spring training.
Stewart, a Florida native, failed to get going this season, hitting.172/.326/.298 in 71 major league games with five home runs and 19 RBIs before being demoted to Triple-A at the end of July.
The 30-year-old performed much better in the minors, slashing.275/.444/.435 in 22 games, including two home runs and four RBI.
What does this mean for the Mets?
The decision to call up Stewart, although for only a few days, is surprise. In Syracuse, the Florida native has been on fire.
Still, with Stewart called up and already playing outfield, it appears that Pablo Reyes, who was recently called up, will not play outfield in the major leagues despite having some experience.
Perhaps instead of playing on a regular basis, Reyes will make spot starts in the infield and come off the bench in pinch-running situations.
Also, with Martinez sole designated hitter, the Blue and Orange could have gotten away with calling up a bullpen arm to employ in a long relief scenario before sending them back down after Martinez returns, in an attempt to spare the bullpen if the game grew out of control. Still, it’s possible that none of their Triple-A possibilities made them feel comfortable enough.
Time will tell what kind of effect Stewart makes, but unless he has a very tough day or two, his stay in the majors should be brief.
