Ex-Met Dominic Smith making an attempt to ‘take advantage of’ of profession reset with Nationals

Dominic Smith by no means was in a position to earn the constant taking part in time he coveted with the Mets, however the first baseman is taking part in nearly each day in his first season with the last-place Nationals.

The 28-year-old Smith was again in Flushing together with his new crew for the second time this season starting Thursday night time, making his 99th look within the Nats’ first 103 video games.

“It’s been enjoyable. It’s a terrific group of fellows. We’re younger. We compete laborious,” Smith stated earlier than the collection opener, when the Mets defeated the Nationals, 2-1, and Smith went 0-for-3 whereas getting hit by a pitch. “It’s enjoyable to return again taking part in towards this group, and we look ahead to taking part in good baseball, like we now have the final couple of weeks.

“It’s been enjoyable going on the market and taking part in each day. I believe each participant who performs this sport desires of being an on a regular basis participant. So once you get the chance, you simply need to profit from it and have enjoyable with it. That’s all I’m doing proper now. I’m having an amazing time with this crew.”

Smith’s offensive numbers hardly have been eye-popping, coming into the collection with 5 house runs, 28 RBIs and a .685 OPS over 390 plate appearances.

He’s additionally dedicated 5 errors with a .994 fielding share in 97 video games at first base.

The Los Angeles-area native largely was blocked by All-Star slugger Pete Alonso at that place in latest seasons with the Mets, main him to taking part in 183 video games within the outfield from 2018-22.

He batted simply .198 in 58 video games and spent prolonged stretches within the minor leagues final season, nonetheless, and the Mets non-tendered him in November, making him a free agent.

Smith, the Mets’ first-round choose (eleventh total) within the 2013 MLB draft, landed a one-year deal with Washington in the offseason value $2 million, calling the prospect for a daily job “an enormous promoting level.”

The Nationals reside within the NL East basement, however they’d gained six of their earlier 9 video games forward of their four-game cease this weekend at Citi Discipline.

“I nonetheless have actually good associates over there,” Smith stated of the Mets. “However I’m simply centered on the Nationals and what we are able to do over right here to enhance our ball membership. This crew gained the World Sequence only some years in the past [in 2019].

“I need to assist these guys and the group get again to the place we had been.”