The Mets have a crop of youngsters that have the fanbase buzzing, and some have been more successful than others.
Francisco Alvarez is blossoming into a star after a slow start to his big league career, while Mark Vientos was sent back down after struggling in the opportunities he was given at the major league level. Brett Baty has yet to break out as an everyday player, and Ronny Mauricio is still waiting for his call to the bigs.
Daryl Strawberry knows what it’s like to be a hyped prospect in Queens, and he joined Jay Horwitz on the latest episode of the Amazin’ Conversations podcast to offer his advice to the Mets’ prized youngsters.
“I would tell them to keep coming to the ballpark early every day, and keep working. And don’t work on what you’re strong at, work on what you’re weak at,” Strawberry said. “That’s what Jim Frey did with me.”
Frey, the Mets hitting coach when Strawberry made his big-league debut, worked with Strawberry through a slow start to his MLB career, and Strawberry blossomed into one of the best homegrown talents in franchise history.
“He made me come to the ballpark to understand, working on all parts of your game would determine how long you’re gonna stay here, and how much success you’re gonna have here,” Strawberry said. “It doesn’t mean it’s all gonna happen in your first or second year…you’re gonna have some hard times. It catches up to everybody. Everyone struggles.
If you work hard, and you go through some struggles, you’ll be prepared.”
It didn’t happen right away for Strawberry, as he hit just .180 with four home runs in his first 40 games as a rookie. But he hit .295 with a .987 OPS and 22 home runs the rest of the way, and for each of the next eight years after, he was an All-Star.
So, while the expectations are even higher in New York, Strawberry says the current wave of Mets phenoms need to be able to push through the early challenges.
“It’s the spotlight, but it’s part of playing in a big city,” Strawberry said. “You’re gonna make mistakes, and can you handle the pressure? The fans are gonna get on you, but it’s not personal. I never took it personal when the fans booed me. I took it as, ‘I need to play better.’ I realized that they saw the talent I had, and they wanted me to play better.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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