The Mets just claimed Bryce Brentz from the Pirates and he’s a left fielder. Still reeling from the last few seasons, and operating from a position of no amount of depth is good enough, the Mets picked up Brentz even though the Mets outfield corps is 95% corner outfielders.
Brentz, 29, was drafted by the Indians in 2007, went to Middle Tennessee State and was drafted by the Red Sox in 2010. He debuted with the Red Sox in 2014, he played in 9 games getting 26 appearances slashing .308/.308/.385. He didn’t make it back to the majors until 2016 where he had 64 plate appearances over 25 games slashing .279/.313/.377.
In February he was acquired by the Pirates where in 17 games and 47 appearances he hit .250/.362/.350 and Baseball Reference projects him this season to have 206 pleat appearances hitting .258/.325/.414.
Of course this is just essentially his stats sheet. You can’t discuss an introduction to Bryce Brentz without an incident in 2013. Around the time he received an invitation to big league camp, he shot himself in the leg while cleaning his gun. Separate from that, he has had a plague of injuries over the last 4 years hampering his development. He could still be a platoon bat but doesn’t project to be that important for the 2018 Mets.
However, in a season where Conforto is coming back from injury, Lagares/Cespedes are always an injury risk, Brentz does give the Mets some insurance from tapping someone Triple AAA who is a lesser quality than Brentz.
