Eric Campbell made the team out of Spring Training. He’s hitting .159/.270/.226 in 30 games. He has a -0.2 WAR, 39 OPS+, and a 47 wRC+. 

Matt Reynolds was briefly called-up to to injuries. In eight games, he hit .100/.182/.100. It’s a very short sample size, but he has a – 0.1 WAR, -20 OPS+, and a -15 wRC+ player. Before his call-up, he was only hitting .238/.303/.369 in AAA. In 2014, he hit .267/.319/.412. 

Ty Kelly was also called-up due to injuries. In five games, he has hit .091/.167/.091. It’s a very short sample size, but he’s a -0.2 WAR, -26 OPS+, and a -23 wRC+ player. Last year in AAA, he hit .236/.322/.296. There have been four other organizations that gave up on him before the Mets signed him to a minor league deal. 

These are the three players the Mets have deemed more major league worthy than T.J. Rivera. 

This is no fault of Rivera. Rivera has done everything the Mets could possibly ask. He has improved as a hitter each and every year at each and every level. Last year, he hit .306/.345/.443 in AAA. So far this year, he is hitting .374/.409/.549. 

Rivera has also become a very versatile player. In college, he played second and third. During his time in the minors, he has played second and third while also becoming an adequate defender at first and short. This past week, in an effort to become even more versatile and attractive to the Mets, he has begun playing left field. 

There are some holes in Rivera’s game. He has doubles power. He doesn’t work the count well. He may play multiple positions, but he’s not a plus defender at any of those positions. So yes, there are some flaws, but you know what?  These are the same flaws that Campbell, Reynolds, and Kelly have. The only thing that separates Rivera from these players is they got a shot, and he didn’t. That and Rivera has been a much better hitter in the minors than the other three players. 

The Mets have World Series aspirations. They cannot keep trotting out players who hit WELL UNDER the Mendoza Line. The Mets have to do something as Campbell, Reynolds, and Kelly have squandered their opportunities. There are more excuses. The Mets have to call up Rivera. 

Editor’s Note: this was first published on metsminors.net