Jared Young Exit, Eric Wagaman Opens Queens With 415-Foot Blast
jared young did not need long to learn what Eric Wagaman can supply. In his first start in Queens for the Mets on Wednesday against the Reds, the 28-year-old drove a 110 mph swing down the left-field line for a 415-foot home run in his first at-bat and gave New York a 2-0 lead.
The blast came on Wagaman’s first hit as a Met. His next trip ended differently, with a line drive to left field that was tracked down after carrying a.554 expected batting average.
Wagaman Opens Fast In Queens
Wagaman was used at designated hitter for the start, and the early damage gave the Mets a quick return on the lineup spot. A depth bat delivering immediate production is useful for a club that has been managing injuries and uneven offense while searching for reliable run support.
That first swing also fit his recent usage. Wagaman arrived with a 140-game rookie season in Miami behind him, where he hit.250 with a.296 OBP, nine home runs and 53 RBIs. Wednesday was his first start in Queens, and he answered it with the kind of extra-base impact that can keep a player in the lineup.
Jared Young Changes The Matchup
The night ended early for Wagaman when Jared Young entered because of pitching matchups. Young had recently rejoined the Mets from injury, and his return gave the club another option in the same area of the roster that Wagaman was trying to seize.
That overlap makes the at-bat count even more tightly. M.J. Melendez had already shown how quickly the role can swing inside the same season, batting.333 through 16 games with a 1.024 OPS, a.409 OBP, two home runs and six RBIs after May 6 before going 4-for-55 in his later stretch. For the Mets, the problem is not finding one hot night. It is finding which bat can hold the spot when the matchup changes and the injuries keep forcing choices.
Mets Search For Stability
Wagaman’s homer gave the Mets a 2-0 lead and the kind of early production that can steady a lineup spot, even if only for a game. His first hit in Queens was loud enough to matter right away, and his afternoon at designated hitter showed why the Mets keep looking for offense wherever they can find it.
For now, the clearest next step is competition. Young is back from injury, Melendez has already shown both the ceiling and the drop-off, and Wagaman left Wednesday with a strong first case for more starts whenever the Mets sort through the pitching matchups.
