Mets Have Discussed Moving Catcher Travis D'Arnaud To Left Field
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Travis d'Arnaud, the outfielder?
Don't laugh.
There has been some discussion about moving the Mets' young catcher -- who has suffered four known concussions -- to left field, the New York Daily News reported.
"We've talked about it," Terry Collins told the newspaper. "We've brought it up. Obviously, with what he's started to do offensively, we've got to see if these concussions are leading to anything. Is he changing his position (defensively), where he is positioning himself behind the hitter, to get less foul tips?"
The up-and-coming star, just 25 years old, said that he's open to the move despite never playing left field at the professional level.
"I have played left before," he said, according to the New York Daily News. "Wherever they need me to play, and feel would be best for me, I'll go wherever they need me to ... It makes sense. If they want me to go out there I'll work hard to be an outfielder, because wherever they need me to go, I'll go."
Collins made it clear to the newspaper that this is merely an idea. It is not under serious consideration and a position switch remains unlikely.
"We could be one bad foul tip from losing him for a long time," one person in the Mets' organization told the newspaper.
If d'Arnaud were to move to left field, that would open up a spot for Kevin Plawecki, who is currently the Mets' No. 2 prospect behind Noah Syndergaard, according to MLB.com.
"We've just talked about it as a coaching staff," Collins said, according to the Daily News. "If (Plawecki) is as good as they tell me he is ... And you don't want to have both of them (catching), because somebody doesn't get enough playing time. But as of right now we haven't even approached (left field) as an option, because it would have to be going to the instructional league, get to (Port St. Lucie) in January and start the process."
But Collins certainly believes that his catcher could get the job done in the outfield.
"He's got some things that could play out there," the skipper said. "He runs good enough. He throws good enough."
D'Arnaud got off to a terrible start this season, which ultimately led to him being demoted to Triple-A in June. Since coming back to the big leagues, he's shown that he has the ability to be a solid fixture for the Mets for years to come.
Entering Friday night's game against the Phillies, the second-year player is batting .230 with 12 homers and 32 RBIs in 313 at-bats.
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