Padres infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo, who tested positive for the coronavirus July 8, has been cleared to return, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune tweets. Mateo worked out Friday, per Acee, though he’ll begin the season on the COVID-19 injured list. It’s unknown when he’ll be ready to make his 2020 debut.
Mateo was formerly a top 100 prospect with both the Yankees and Athletics, but after back-to-back underwhelming showings in Triple-A over the previous two seasons, the A’s shipped the 25-year-old to the Padres in June for a player to be named later. Mateo has amassed 1,076 plate appearances at the minors’ highest level and slashed a below-average .261/.306/.433 with 22 home runs and 49 stolen bases.
San Diego acquired the out-of-options Mateo knowing he’d either have to make its season-opening roster or be designated for assignment. If healthy, Mateo may have been a candidate for significant reps at second base, and that could still be the case when he’s able to take the field. In the meantime, the Padres will primarily go with Jurickson Profar at the keystone, while Ty France, Greg Garcia and Jake Cronenworth could serve as fallback options.
The Friars just gotta find a way for this kid to play somewhere. They won’t be sorry. This kid reminds me of a young Jose Reyes. He just needs to play. He can play 2nd, short, and some centerfield. He has blazing speed also
Does he have the stick to be more than a utility player? Or can he even be a super utility player?
Could platoon CF and 2B. Depends who steps up. If Profar and France can’t be the right side platoon Mateo will get a shot. If he takes advantage he could be a long term option.
Reyes was a regular at 22, all-star at 23. Mateo is already 25 and still hasn’t reached the majors.
I didn’t say Mateo was the next Reyes. He just needs to play everyday to prove he can produce. He might be a super utility player considering how versatile he is. Remains to be seen.
What makes you think he’ll perform better in the majors after putting up a 739 OPS at triple a in 250 games the last two years? That’s also in the PCL, which I’m sure you know is an extreme hitters league. The league average OPS was 831 last season. He’s also stealing less bases and at a lower success rate the last few seasons.
He’s played in at least 113 games every year since 2015, so it’s not like he’s not getting reps.
Outside of the season that he stole 82 bases, what’s he really done? He wasn’t a top prospect before that, his prospect status has basically been based on that one season. There’s lots of fast guys in the minors that can’t hit.
Right, lots of fast guys who can’t hit. But people say things like, if he could steal X amount of bases, and he can play IF and CF and blah, blah… he can’t hit! We’re looking at a guy with the ceiling of Billy Hamilton and if he somehow manages to reach it his supporters here will turn on him because Hamilton ain’t that good… players whose only asset is speed just are not very valuable.
@Cegmyster … He did that in AAA. And failed. The only tool he’s got that plays up to ML level is speed. Unfortunately, you can’t steal 1st Base.
Some guys take longer than others to develop as players. Tommy Pham spent years in the minors dealing with various challenges and eyesight problems before he finally made it.
Saw him play in person. Blazing speed is accurate.
Why do they “have to” find a spot for him? This kid peaked in AA, just like a lot of other “prospects.”
If he can hit he will play. If he can’t, he won’t.
At worst he’s a guy you put at 2nd in extra innings or as a pitch runner in late innings. So he will see time in games.
Eric Hosmer can’t hit and he still plays
.265AVG 26HRS 99RBIS and cant hit??
.310 OBP. He can hit, but not well enough for an everyday first baseman.
22 home runs isn’t impressive when there was 68 others who had at least 25, and a lot of RBI’s doesn’t make you a good batter. He ranked 115 of 135 qualified batters in wRC+.
Exactly. You put an average hitter in the middle of any lineup for the entire season and he’ll rack up RBIs.
Brandon Phillips had 103 RBIs in 2013 with only a 706 OPS and 94 OPS+ because he had two guys, Choo and Votto, in front of him getting on base 43% of the time.
That didn’t age well
Hey… Hoz went three for four and drove in six runs last night. Tonight he will probably just be moving air again, but it was fun to watch.
Hosmer has a long term contract. Mateo does not.
You trading Hosmer. Yankees will take him. They need more left handed hitters in that lineup with the short porch. You willing to take Andujar?? Haha
That short porch doesn’t matter much when the hitter in question notoriously hits a ton of groundballs.
The yankees certainly would not take Hosmer
Mateo is another example of Preller’s irrational prospect love. Mateo has proven he can’t even handle AAA, so I don’t understand why he’s even being talked about.
No interest in Hosmer at all for the Yankees. We have Luke Voit and Mike Ford platooning at lst. Rather just keep Andujar at this point. Hearing reports his defense is improving at 3rd. Could be Adrian Beltre with the bat. Obviously not with the glove
Yeah, when Urshela comes back to earth and hits a weak .255, the path will be cleared for Miggy.
Even if Gio hit’s .255 he’s worth it with gold glove defense. And he’s got a lot more power then you know. My guess .279 7 homers in 60 games. Andujar is great with the bat. And he defense is getting better. Yanks are not just going to give him away for nothing.
Hos took exception to all the previous comments above last night. 6 RBIs…good start.
He can be good. He’s just not all that consistent. When he’s not doing well, he will strike out or hit weak little ground balls to 2b or short.
Hosmer can opt out of his contract after the 2023 season, but he will never get another contract like that from any team and he knows it.