Smith won’t let lost year sap confidence
WASHINGTON — Dominic Smith smiles to hide the frustration when his lost season is mentioned.
This was supposed to be the year the Mets discovered if their top pick in the 2013 draft was a viable major league player who could potentially secure first base for the next several seasons and provide a dependable left-handed bat in the lineup.
Instead, just over a week remains and Smith lingers in purgatory, hardly tested enough to know if he belongs, while facing roadblocks at first base and in the outfield.
Through it all, Smith — who on Thursday started in left field, a position he picked up during the season — says his confidence in his ability to become an impactful major leaguer hasn’t wavered.
“I am 23 years old, it can’t change at 23,” Smith said before the Mets faced the Nationals. “You have got guys breaking into the league at 25, 26 and they are making a splash, so I have got time. I am not too worried about that.”
Smith entered with a .217/.250/.417 slash line, four homers and eight RBIs in 115 at-bats this season. Once regarded as the organization’s future at first base, he is now facing the possibility Jay Bruce or power-hitting phenom Peter Alonso will claim the position in 2019.
The chance of sticking as a corner outfielder is just as daunting, with Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo and Bruce in that mix. That doesn’t include Yoenis Cespedes, who is expected to miss the first half of next season rehabbing from surgery on both heels.
“I feel like if I come in and do my part, I will force some hands,” Smith said. “That is all I can do. I can’t worry about everything else that is going on. We do have a lot of outfielders, a lot of really talented players. We do have Bruce seeing some time at first base and Pete Alonso is in Triple-A right now, so there’s a lot of stuff that needs to get solved over the next couple of months, but I feel it will work itself out.
“If I come into spring training and do what I am supposed to do, I feel I like I will make them make a tough decision.”
There is also the possibility Smith never returns to spring training with the Mets and is traded in the offseason. “Definitely,” Smith said. “And I feel like me playing outfield helps my versatility for myself and to the Mets, too. If I can go out there and play the outfield a couple of days a week and be able to play first and swing it, that’s the biggest part. As long as I am hitting, they will find a spot to put me in and that’s all I am really focusing on now, and obviously improving my outfield defense.”
Smith will begin playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic next month. Smith is satisfied with the manner in which he has handled the outfield this season, given that he didn’t start playing there until May at Triple-A Las Vegas.
“I think we are just moving him around at that point to see what is a viable option for next year,” manager Mickey Callaway said.
“It was just an unfortunate year for me, myself personally, and I am sure for the team, the expectations that we had,” Smith said. “It was a weird year.”