We now have a reason, but not an excuse, for Dom Smith’s poor offensive performance last season” he played a chunk of the year with a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder.
Speaking to SI.com, Smith said wrist soreness he started feeling last spring compromised his swing, which led to the partial labrum tear.
"I didn’t want to miss too much time, so I just wore a little tape on my wrist, and went after it,” Smith told SI. “But then because my wrist was hurting, I wound up messing up my labrum due to my one hand follow through on my swing.”
Smith had a breakout season in the shortened 2020 campaign, slashing .316/.377/.616 with 10 homers and 42 RBI in 50 games, earning himself a 13th-place finish in the NL MVP race. However, the 26-year-old slugger cratered in 2021, slashing .244/.304/.363 – an OPS barely better than his slugging alone from 2020 – with 11 homers and 58 RBI in 145 games.
No excuses from Smith, though.
“I’ve seen guys play through so much stuff," he said. "I couldn’t come in and make excuses. If I was available, then I was going to go out and play.”
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Smith also said his wrist and shoulder are “a lot better than last year” and “good enough to go,” but he may get a little more rest this year if needed; the Mets have virtually four players for three spots, with Mark Canha and Dom Smith (left field) and Jeff McNeil and Robby Cano (second base) able to rotate at those two defensive positions plus DH, with McNeil also capable of a turn in the outfield.
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