Luis Guillorme’s introduction to the baseball world was a microcosm of his unique skill-set.
In Spring Training of 2017, Guillorme casually picked a bat out of mid-air after it went flying from the hands of Adeiny Hechavarría and into the Mets dugout.
With nary a flinch, Guillorme made the one-handed grab while his frightened teammates scuttled out of the way.
The play was not just a novelty, but a demonstration of Guillorme’s cat-like reflexes and calm under duress.
Fielding Flaws in Flushing
In 2021, the Mets will employ those very skills to save runs on defense. Though Guillorme provides enormous value as a backup infielder, the Mets would be wise to name him the starting third baseman to open the season.
It’s not hard to understand why Guillorme should be in the starting lineup on a consistent basis. The Mets have been one of the majors’ worst fielding teams for several seasons now, and there are legitimate concerns about this year’s defensive alignment. While the additions of catcher James McCann and shortstop Francisco Lindor should make the club stronger up the middle, potential problems still abound.
The Mets were unable to procure the services of George Springer or Jackie Bradley Jr. this offseason, leaving them with Brandon Nimmo as their center fielder. And with Pete Alonso entrenched at first base and the Designated Hitter absent from the NL this year, Dominic Smith will patrol left field. Nimmo and Smith are too important to the team’s offense to keep on the bench, so two-thirds of the outfield will be manned by players who are out of position.
The Guillorme Ingredient
Since the outfield situation is practically immutable, the best chance for the Mets to improve their defensive capabilities is to upgrade third base. J.D. Davis has been focusing on footwork this spring in the hopes of improving his subpar performance at the hot corner (-5 Outs Above Average in 2020). The Mets also have the option of moving Jeff McNeil to third, but his struggles there last season bled into his offensive game. Guillorme is an immediate solution at the position, and pairing him with Francisco Lindor on the left side of the diamond would lead to more double plays and fewer balls sneaking into the outfield for hits.
Guillorme’s presence at the corner would especially be beneficial for Marcus Stroman, a pitcher who relies on soft contact and ground balls to generate outs. Stroman has the highest ground-ball percentage in the majors since the start of 2016 (59.3%) and a highly capable infield could do wonders for his overall performance. Guillorme’s glove is a game-changer, and his most recent major league stint provided glimpses of an offensive breakthrough. It may only have been 68 plate appearances in a pandemic-shortened season, but Guillorme slashed .333/.426/.439 last year while drawing 10 walks compared to 17 strikeouts. If he’s merely serviceable with the bat, Guillorme will more than justify his increased playing time.
Searle’s Final Say
The Mets need to prioritize defense this season, and putting their 26-year-old wizard at the hot corner is a step toward achieving that goal. Boasting a full-bodied beard that would make King Leonidas envious, Guillorme plays the field with ferocious fearlessness. His aggressive approach will turn batted balls into outs and kill rallies by opposing teams. With Guillorme at third, the Mets can call upon J.D. Davis as a pinch-hitter in late-game situations. Guillorme has made the most of his scant opportunities thus far (he even pitched a scoreless inning last season), and he should flourish in a larger role.
