Dominic Smith, 23 year old Prospect or Bust?

There's a lot of negativity surrounding Dominic Smith, But I feel it's all misguided. 

Here's why I feel that way:

Lets start in 2017. There was Hype surrounding Both now Mets Shortstop of the Future, Amed Rosario and Still First Base prospect, Dominic Smith. Both were projected to be the Future of the their respective Positions. Both were called up in August of 2017 around the same time, if not a few days or so apart. Both got opportunities to play everyday at their positions. One Did somewhat well, while the other didn't do as well. Dominic Smith also struggled with a Weight issue, coming to the Mets when called up overweight! It wasn't a good look for him as a First Impression, but in the 49 games he played in a Lost season, it was shown (by fans standards) that he was a bust at only 22 years of age! 

Last offseason, Smith dedicated himself to lose weight and lose the weight he did. Skipping forward to Spring Training, The Mets signed Adrian Gonzalez to be a Mentor figure to Smith and brought Jose Reyes back to Mentor Rosario. One of the two worked. The Reyes/Rosario Mentor/Protege experiment worked Wonders for Rosario, but not for Smith. The First Day or so that Smith was slated to start his First Spring Training game, He slept through his alarm and was late to the Stadium. His Punishment that him and Manager Mickey Callaway agreed on was to miss that game. He then started another game where he suffered a Knee Injury, Forcing Adrian Gonzalez to take the Starting First Baseman's role.

Smith was sent down to Vegas to get starts and to develop some more. When June came around after the Mets beat the Yankees by the score of 2-0, Gonzalez was released and Dominic Smith was called up in his place. Smith only had 16 Starts between June and July and was then sent down but didn't produce with Starts at First Base and Left Field. Wilmer Flores got the Lion's share of starts for the Season until Jay Bruce returned got more reps at First Base. Dominic Smith was called up in September and he got starts in both Left Field and First Base. 

Smith was shifted to the Outfield when Peter Alonso was called up to the AAA Team from AA Binghamton. Because Smith is a Left Handed thrower, the only option for him was to be shifted to the Outfield. Alonso is now the new Up and Coming First Baseman Leaving Smith to fight for his Job. With Alonso thriving, there's a lot of pressure on Smith to play well to save his opportunities. With the Mets AAA Team now in Syracuse and Spring Training coming up in a few Months, it'll be a chance for Smith to Battle Alonso for The Starting First Baseman's role.

Fans consider Dominic Smith a Bust at 23 years old! My issue though, is that Smith never got a lot of starts like Amed Rosario did. He never got a long enough chance to start a lot of games to work on his swing, Plate Discipline, Defense acclimate to the Major Leagues instead of taking the plane back to Vegas or now in this case, The Bus or Train back to Syracuse. From what we've seen, he's a Natural First Baseman and he's got Opposite Field Power and Power in General! He can hit the Ball well when he's hot. Now, with that being said, When Rosario Started almost Every game this season with the exception of a handful of off days, Rosario got the chance to improve himself and learn from his mistakes while still at the Major League Level while Smith did not get the same Luxury which is why fans think Smith is a 23 Year old Bust. 

In Conclusion, If Dominic Smith gets his chance, Possibly make the Opening Day roster and get plenty of Starts that are not spread out and are consistent in the form of everyday starts, Then there is a chance that he can make a career for himself!

Until the Next Blog my Friends,

LETS GO METS!!!