Met’s Marcus Semien Showing Signs of Improvement
PHILADELPHIA — The Marcus Semien that the Mets saw during the first couple of months of the season wasn’t exactly impressive.
The seasoned second baseman had been frequently pulled from the lineup since early May, embodying a team’s overall struggles with performance.
However, Semien has been turning things around lately. As he approached Saturday’s game against the Phillies, he had a .750 OPS in June, backed by four home runs, playing a significant part in the Mets winning eight out of 14 games.
“Every time I come to the ballpark, I think, ‘How can I improve my at-bat and contribute to winning?'” Semien shared prior to the game.
Semien, who joined the team last winter in a trade that sent Brandon Nimmo to Texas, started the day with a slash line of .225/.283/.362, which is pretty underwhelming for the 35-year-old former All-Star. But since late May, his OPS has climbed from .569 to .644, a minor yet hopeful change for a team working hard to stay competitive.
“I’m happy with my routine,” Semien mentioned. “That became consistent as we worked together.” He noted that adjusting to a new team can take time. It’s tough for players who switch teams frequently since humans tend to be creatures of habit. Sometimes, that leads them to overthink or stray from what helps them prepare effectively.
One of Semien’s more considerable issues appears to be his bat speed, which clocked in at 108.7 mph, ranking in the 10th percentile among MLB players. Most of his challenges stemmed from breaking balls, starting out with a batting average of .150 along with 31 strikeouts.
“I think it comes down to the ability to hit velocity and make contact with velocity…If you hit a 98 mph fastball into the left field seats, it should fly regardless of the speed of the bat,” Semien explained, pointing out his mindset on approaching pitches.
His latest standout moment was a two-run triple he hit on Thursday, helping the Mets secure a 6-4 victory over the Phillies, marking their second consecutive win. The Mets entered the day trailing the Braves in the National League East by 13.5 games.
Currently, the Mets are five games out of the third wild card spot in the National League.
“We dug ourselves a little bit of a hole, but we’re getting some good players back,” Semien added. “We want to focus on the present, do the best we can, win the series here, get some reinforcements, and stay on track.”
A significant boost could come from Francisco Lindor, who may return within the next few days after recovering from a calf strain that kept him out for two months. The timelines are still uncertain for others like Jorge Polanco and Luis Roberto Jr., who have been unavailable since April.
“We hope all the players who were sidelined will be back and healthy,” Semien expressed. “There’s a lot of talent in this organization, a lot of high-end talent. With some players starting to hit well and others hopefully returning, the second half could be really promising.”
