The Mets are attempting to tread water in 2012. With that being said, the Mets are going forward with an eclectic mix of returning stars, up-and-coming Minor Leaguers, and veteran free agent signees. One area with a young player tentatively in place is right field.
1. Lucas Duda: The Dude is preparing for his first full season in the Majors. He looked good in two-thirds of a season last year in the Majors, batting .292 in 301 at-bats. He looks like he's going to be a capable hitter at the Major League level with a ton of power, but the questions surrounding him involve defense. He's a natural first baseman who hasn't really ever proven that he can play the outfield in the Majors. The Mets are hoping he can be a capable fielder this year and can produce anywhere between 20 and 37 homers with a lot of runs produced.
2. Scott Hairston: The Mets have brought Hairston back to reprise his role as a right-handed bat off of the bench. He had an unusual season last year before going down with an injury in mid-August, batting .235 in 132 at-bats, but hitting seven home runs in that time. Defense is another matter entirely for Hairston. He's a natural second baseman and is mediocre - at best - in the outfield, and last season he struggled mightily in Citi Field's spacious dimensions, not getting much time in right at all, which was one of the toughest right fields in the Majors for the first three years of its existence. The dimensions are considerably smaller this season, but that shouldn't equate to more playing time for Hairston. The Mets are hoping that Hairston can provide a level of stability as a righty pinch hitter and produce some power off the bench.
3. Cesar Puello: Puello is a top prospect who the Mets have placed on their 40-man roster. He had a good season at St. Lucie last year, batting .259 in 441 at-bats, although he only stole a disappointing 19 bases and scored only 67 runs. Another issue with Puello is his patience, as he drew only 18 walks and struck out an alarming 103 times. That tells me that he was swinging at almost everything, and that he was coming up empty quite a bit. He's a good outfielder though, and the Mets are hoping that he can get back on track a little bit as he continues to progress through the Minors. Puello probably needs another two full years in the Minors and he's likely headed to Binghamton this year, although a strong campaign in the Minors could end in a September call-up for Puello. The Mets want Puello to raise his average about 20 points, cut down on his strikeouts, take more pitches and start stealing bases and scoring runs at a batter pace this year in the Minors.
4. Adam Loewen: Baseball fans may recognize Loewen's name but may also be surprised to see him under the right field title: He was drafted by the Orioles in the first round in 2002 and came on the scene as a promising rookie in 2006, as a starting pitcher. A number of injuries and general ineffectiveness ended his pitching career, and now he's trying to get to the Majors as a hitter and outfielder. He got a September call-up last year in Toronto after a strong showing in Las Vegas but he didn't perform well, batting .182 in 32 at-bats. A big left-hander, Loewen hasn't developed much power yet but he has been a decent hitter in the Minors, despite a disturbing tendency to strike out. Loewen's also a good corner outfielder with an absolute gun for an arm, and he has a chance to win a job as a lefty pinch hitter with the Mets in the Spring, though he's probably an underdog in that role right now. If he doesn't make the team he should provide interesting depth at Buffalo.
The Mets look a little murky in right field, but not exactly bad. Duda should be decent at worse, and he has the makings to become a stud if not a star. Hairston can be a decent bat off the bench. Puello's a good prospect who could become a productive player in the Majors in a few years. And Loewen might make a good bench player.
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