The words “bulging cervical disc” are likely to produce a wince from even the most stoic of readers, but it seems that Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo has managed that exact injury well enough to make a return to playing baseball in the coming days. Per Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News, it seems that Nimmo, who hasn’t appeared with the Metropolitans since mid-May, could rejoin the team as soon as tomorrow according to manager Mickey Callaway (link). After a brilliant 2018 in which the 26-year-old slashed .263/.404/.483 with a 149 wRC+, Nimmo was expected to be a large part of New York’s playoff push; instead, his injury largely opened the door for an emergent J.D. Davis, who has more than helped account for Nimmo’s absence with a 131 wRC+ in 374 trips to the plate this year.
Still, fellow Mets outfielder Michael Conforto is excited about Nimmo’s return: “He can be a gamechanger,” Conforto told Thosar. “He gets on base and there are days where he just doesn’t get out. If he’s feeling 100% healthy, he’ll be a serious weapon for us.”
More notes from around the National League on the last day of August…
- The Phillies were just 3.0 games back in the NL Wild Card race entering play Saturday, but the team can count out three of their pitchers for the rest of the year. According to a tweet from Todd Zolecki of MLB.com (link), Philadelphia hurlers Seranthony Dominguez (elbow soreness), Adam Morgan (elbow), and Pat Neshek (hamstring) will all be held out through season’s end. None of these pitchers have appeared in August action; all were expected to be key contributors to the Philadelphia staff this year, which helps explain how the Phillies pen has struggled to a collective 4.70 ERA on the year (20th in MLB).
- San Diego Union-Tribune writer Kevin Acee says it “sounds like” the Padres are set to promote relief prospect Javy Guerra when rosters expand tomorrow (link). That a 23-year-old Double-A reliever would receive a September cup of coffee on a losing team is hardly an earth-shattering development–except for the circuitous route that Guerra has taken to this point. When the club acquired Guerra in 2015 as part of the Craig Kimbrel deal, he was seen as the second key piece in a four-player package headlined by outfielder Manuel Margot. Of course, Guerra was a shortstop at the time–and one highly touted enough to slot in immediately as San Diego’s third-ranked overall prospect following the deal. Several years of putrid offensive production followed before Guerra finally started pitching full-time this season. Early results are promising: his first taste High-A yielded a 3.71 ERA and 12.18 K/9, and Double-A results through 4.1 innings included a 2.08 ERA and 14.54 K/9 mark.
Guerra better stick fast. This is his last option year.
He’s never been in the majors so he’s never used an option year.
He played in 13 games in 2018
Yes he has been in the majors and even then he doesn’t have to have been in the majors to use an option year. Rymer Liriano used option years in 2012 and 2013 despite not playing a single game in the majors those years, for example.
Not to be confused with the Javy Guerra in the Nats bullpen, not to be confused with Junior Guerra in the Brewers bullpen, not to be confused with Deolis Guerra in the Brewers farm system….
inb4 the terrible “Nimmo is a 5th outfielder on a good team” takes
Or inb4 someone questions the brilliant description because of the .263 batting average.
Mejia or Hedges is gone in the off season with three others in the 25 roster. Need new blood, some knew faces let’s get some energy and spark on this team. They have a long ways to go to make the playoffs in 2020. I hope not another year of futility.
They need a whole lot more than Javy, they need three more Tatis’s and get rid of anyone who can’t hit above .250, I know its half the lineup.
Bingo
I hope Nimmo is 100% healthy. His energy can motivate the team. Maybe even the current team.
Guys who post a .400+ OBP don’t grow on trees. Thus Nimmo’s activation should really help the Mets. Nimmo in CF and leading off or batting second is the way they should go.
Just get Alonso out of 2 hole. Hate him there. Mcneil nimmo Alonso Or mcneil nimmo Conforto alonso.
I know cano was weak this year, I would still take him over any second base man option Mets have and over lagares (mcneil at second). This lineup will stretch strong 1-8 with a healthy nimmo and a half decent cano.