Luis Guillorme Has Earned His Spot
Scrappy utility infielder should be a valuable bench cog in 2022...
Image: Roberto Carlo
During spring training last year, New York Mets infielder Luis Guillorme shared the mindset that every ballplayer from the last spot on the bench to the starting center fielder, from Little League to the majors, should embrace.
“I’m doing what [the Mets] want me to do and I’m gonna keep doing it,” he told the media corps in February. “Whether that’s start games, come off the bench, play defense late in the game; I’m just gonna keep doing what they need me to do.”
Coming off an extremely strong stretch from his recall in late 2019 through 2020 (.313/.407/.448, 137 wRC+, 13.9% walk rate, 20.9% strikeout, 115 plate appearances), the now-27-year-old was in line for an active role on Luis Rojas’ roster.
Things didn’t work out as planned, as oblique and hamstring injuries (plus a very crowded infield slate once he was healthy again) kept Guillorme in a state of limbo throughout most of the year. As long as he’s healthy, that shouldn’t happen again.
His versatility throughout the infield, including an impressive stash of upper-echelon web gems collected (see image above) over his extremely intermittent MLB career, instilled confidence in the previous regime to lean on Guillorme when necessary and the process was taking hold.
Without a true defensive home, the Coral Springs, Florida product (by way of Venezuela) has adjusted to every situation thrown at him and performed well under the circumstances. Statcast rates him as anywhere from just below to just above average around the infield dirt.
His approach at the plate hasn’t wavered. Never a power threat (that game-tying homer versus Washington in 2019 was fun but the blasts have been few and far between), Guillorme simply puts the ball in play.
From the second half of 2018 through last season, Guillorme’s hit .282/.379/.355 with 13 doubles and 109 wRC+ over 304 plate appearances. And that stretch includes his glaring learning curves throughout late 2018 and early 2019. Very nice.
To be fair, it’s never easy to adjust to the highest level without more than sporadic reps. When afforded the opportunity to play, Guillorme’s shown apparent growth. It’s the first part that’s eluded him.
An example: Despite respectable stretches against left-handers through his minor league career (.291/.325/.316 in 83 PA, 2018; .323/.416/.385 in 77 PA, 2019), Guillorme has mostly been held back versus southpaws in the majors.
Through 2019 and 2020, he went just 3-for-14 against lefties. In 2021, he improved his line to 9-for-34. That’s tangible progress.
Over 294 plate appearances since the start of 2019, Guillorme has accumulated 1.3 wins above replacement (FanGraphs). Over a full season (700 plate appearances), that level of production would equate to a 3.1-win season. What else could you want in a bench player?
With one minor-league option year left and interchangeable parts once again a hallmark of the Mets’ roster heading into 2022, Guillorme should be given every opportunity to win a bench job on this significantly upgraded roster.
Spelling Eduardo Escobar or Robinson Cano or Jeff McNeil or Francisco Lindor or whoever occupies New York’s infield this season — and doing so with above-average defense and a solid bat-to-ball profile — seems like an ideal fit for his skill-set. And mindset…
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