Mets Allow Rosario To Catch His Breath
NEW YORK—The Mets promoted shortstop Amed Rosario to Double-A Binghamton last September after high Class A St. Lucie was eliminated from postseason contention.
Despite participating in the Eastern League playoffs in 2015, Rosario is back in the Florida State League to open 2016. The Mets believe the 20-year-old will benefit from finally being closer in age to his peers on the diamond.
“For such a young guy, playing at a very competitive level, he just holds his own,” said first-year bench coach Dick Scott, who previously served as the organization’s director of player development. “He’s never been overwhelmed by the situation that he’s been in.
“He’s just got all of the tools. His physicality is more pronounced this year than it’s been in the past. What he needs is just to have a really good season, because he’s been playing so much younger than the league that he’s been in . . .
“I think this is the year he’ll catch up.”
The Mets signed Rosario for $1.75 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2012, and that bonus represents the organization’s largest ever for an international amateur. Rosario said the Rays, White Sox and Cardinals also seriously pursued him.
Talk of him one day having to move off shortstop because of his frame have dissipated, even after Rosario added about 10 pounds of good weight in the offseason.
“I’m working out to make sure I maintain my agility at shortstop to stay long term,” Rosario said through a translator.
The youngest player in the FSL last season, Rosario hit .257/.307/.335 with 25 extra-base hits in 103 games. Homerless in nearly 400 at-bats in 2015, he hit a walk-off long ball in the opener for St. Lucie this season.
“At first it was a little difficult trying to figure out the strike zone, but over the course of time I was able to make adjustments,” Rosario said about last season. “My biggest improvement was with the strike zone. I shrunk it over the course of time, which allowed me to have a good season last year.”
Scott believes that “in a perfect world,” Rosario would spend at least half a season in the FSL before a return to Binghamton.
METAMORPHOSES
• Shortstop Luis Guillorme, the MVP of the low Class A South Atlantic League last year, has shifted primarily to second base because of Rosario’s presence at St. Lucie.
• The low Class A Columbia Fireflies debuted on April 8 with a 5-4 loss at Charleston. The SAL franchise relocated from Savannah, Ga.
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