Mets First Basemen

The Mets are treading water this season and there aren't very many expectations on them yet.  One problem area from last season was first base, which was basically unmanned all season.  They're trying a youth movement at the position this season, but there are questions about ability and health there.

1.  Ike Davis:  Davis is a former top prospect who was a huge power hitter in high school, college, and in the Minors.  He has 30-homer potential, but hasn't come anywhere near that production at the Major League level.  In addition, Davis is attempting to return from a season-ending knee injury from 2011.  He was productive when healthy last season, batting .302 in 129 at-bats.  The Mets are hoping that he can stay healthy this season and reach the 20-homer plateau, at a minimum.  If he is healthy, he'll be the unquestioned first baseman.

2.  Daniel Murphy:  Murphy is a former top prospect who has had an interesting career at the Major League level.  He has 20-homer potential, but has topped out at 12 in the Majors.  He also is a good line drive hitter who could become a consistent .300 hitter.  But Murphy is attempting to come back from three knee injuries in two years and may not be ready to go.  In addition, if he is healthy he's currently penciled in to be the starting second baseman.  So he's not much of a legitimate option in the first base mix right now.  But the Mets are depending on his health as he batted .320 in 391 at-bats last season.  And they're hoping that he can stay healthy with a high batting average and at least somewhere around 15 homers next season.

3.  Valentino Pascucci:  Pascucci is a career Minor Leaguer who has always seemed to be a favorite in the Mets organization.  He has tremendous power, having hit 231 homers in the Minors in his career.  As of right now Pascucci has a legitimate chance of playing first base regularly given the concerns surrounding Davis and Murphy.  Last season he hit a home run and had two runs batted in for the Mets in September. 

First base is up in the air for the Mets.  Davis is a good young player, but he's still unproven at the Major League level and his knee is a question mark.  Likewise, Murphy is a promising young player who also has a weak knee, and he's committed at another position.  Pascucci is a nice player to have for depth and could provide some pop off the bench in an imperfect world, but that's all.  LeRoy doesn't want to be a Negative Nancy, but right now we expect to see Murphy playing first base on Opening Day, which isn't exactly a bad thing, but it's not a great thing either.