The 2015 season was supposed to be the one that New York Mets catcher and former Toronto Blue Jays top prospect Travis d'Arnaud would finally break out and show Major League Baseball the same player that destroyed Eastern League pitching with New Hampshire in 2011 and Pacific Coast League pitching with Las Vegas in 2012. Unfortunately, just like last year, d'Arnaud has been plagued by injuries that have lessoned the number of games played for the Mets.
The former first-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies was off to a fantastic start this season as he had 13 hits in his first 11 games (.317 average) with two of them being home runs. Then, disaster struck as d'Arnaud was hit on the right hand by a pitch from Miami's A.J. Ramos, ultimately fracturing the pinkie on his throwing hand. The estimated recovery time was three to four weeks, yet it took the catcher twice the amount of time (a little over seven weeks) to return to action.
Upon his return, d'Arnaud played well and put together a five-game hit streak between June 10 and June 15. Although he did not record a hit in two games at Toronto, he rebounded with a huge game against the Atlanta Braves, in which he smacked a home run and drove in three of New York's four runs. Great game, right? Not so much considering d'Arnaud's left arm was nearly ripped off by Atlanta's A.J. Pierzynski on a tag play at home plate in the sixth inning. d'Arnaud was immediately taken out of the game, and, despite negative x-rays, the twenty-six year old had suffered a left elbow sprain. He was placed back on the DL yesterday.
As he heads back to the DL, d'Arnaud is batting .296 with 4 HR and 17 RBI in 19 games played. Rookie Kevin Plawecki (.231 average, 2 HR, and 14 RBI) will take over starting duties for the Mets while -- fresh from Triple-A Las Vegas -- Johnny Monell (one hit in 17 career at bats) will assume the back-up duties.