Each year at 213 we look through the Non-Roster Invitees to spring training and get to know them a bit. Are they in camp to get a look at big league hitting/pitching to aid their development? Are the Mets just trying to get a better look at a future rookie? Are they a veteran trying to get back to the major league level? What can we expect from them this season?
Today we get to look an old friend, Wilfredo Tovar! Wilfredo was signed by the Mets back in 2007 and made his major league debut in 2013 with the Mets and also saw some time in 2014 as well. After the Mets he has signed with the Twins. Cardinals, Angels, Twins again and now Mets again. So close to a palindrome of a career (if he ends with the Mets).
You would be forgiven if you missed his time as a Met. In 2013, as a 21 year old, he had 19 PA’s and hit .200/.294/.200 and then in 2014 he had only 3 PA’s. He had a longer look in 2019 as a 27 year old where he was in 31 games and 88 PA’s with a .193/.239/.253/.492 line.
Despite struggles in the majors, he’s done well in the minors with a .268/.324/.352 line and in International leagues he has hit .279/.324/.361. He did turn some heads with his three most recent minor league lines:
- 2019 AAA .321/.355/.446
- 2019 VEWL .293/.331/.414
- 2020 VEWL .323/.407/.415
So why not give Wilfredo Tovar another chance? There are no infielders on the Mets who are immediately ready. He’s had some interesting recent stats in the Venezuelan League (there are similarities here with the David Rodriguez signing), so why not take a risk! Tovar and Jose Peraza are basically competing this spring for next infielder up in the case of injury for the Mets, maybe even trying to squeeze on to the roster by the end of Spring.
