Wuilmer Becerra Faces A Big Year

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.—Outfielder Wuilmer Becerra faces an important season as he tries to show the Mets he should be considered a part of the organization’s future.

The 22-year-old Venezuelan, whom the Mets acquired in the December 2012 trade that sent R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays and brought Noah Syndergaard and Travis d’Arnaud to New York, missed the final six weeks last season at high Class A St. Lucie after having surgery for a torn capsule in his right shoulder.

The Mets added Becerra to the 40-man roster in November, but he doesn’t expect to begin throwing until April.

A righthanded batter, Becerra hit .312/.341/.393 with one home run in 65 games last season at St. Lucie.

“His development is probably a little behind (because of injuries), but he has shown a lot of promise,” general manager Sandy Alderson said. “If he shows more power, he’s going to be an outstanding player.”

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Becerra has never hit more than nine homers in a season and knows he must increase his output.

“I have power, but sometimes I don’t use it,” Becerra said. “Sometimes I try to hit to the opposite field every time, but I have worked in the cage with my hitting coach. I look for the three points: inside, outside and the middle. If the pitch is in the middle, hit it hard to center field—that is what I am working on right now.”

If Becerra’s throwing arm is compromised by the surgery, the Mets could consider shifting him to left field at either St. Lucie or Double-A Binghamton to start the season.

“I have played right field for five years, so when I play other positions I feel weird,” Becerra said, “but I can make adjustments.”

Becerra, who signed with Toronto in 2011, comes from a baseball family. His father Wilmer played for three years in the Twins system, while his cousin Brandon Benavente is an Astros minor leaguer.

NEW YORK MINUTES

• First baseman Dominic Smith reported to spring training 24 pounds lighter after drastically altering his diet. The 21-year-old is competing for a Triple-A roster spot.

• Righthander Robert Gsellman had offseason surgery on his left shoulder that will allow him to swing a bat this year. He went 1-for-17 with two sacrifice bunts in the big leagues.

— Mike Puma covers the Mets for the New York Post