The Mets have gone through Eric Campbell, Ty Kelly, and Matt Reynolds as bench players.  Unfortunately, none of them performed up to expectations.  Finally, the Mets felt compelled to trade a good prospect like Akeel Morris for Kelly Johnson.  It was a deal made after the Mets had already gone through almost every single last option they had in the minors who could play multiple positions.

Actually, they didn’t.  The Mets never gave T.J. Rivera a shot.

Rivera has done all you could ask from a player.  He has learned multiple positions.  He’s capable of playing every position in the infield even if he’s not truly adept at any single position.  After being passed over for a promotion to the majors by Kelly, Rivera dedicated himself to learning the outfield to make himself even more attractive to be a major league call-up.  He has hit .361/.401/.526 so far in AAA this year.  He as the Pacific Coast League’s Player of the Month for the month of May.  Again, Rivera has done everything to merit a call-up.  It just isn’t happening.

Was Rivera the solution to the Mets bench problems?  Probably not.  He was still a 27 year old undrafted minor league player.  Yet, he still possessed skills that could of translated to the major leagues.  He had the potential to be a contact hitter with doubles power.  He could have filled in all across the diamond.  There are a lot of things Rivera was capable of doing if only he got the chance.  He won’t for reasons that are still unclear, and frankly, are unfair.

So yes, the Mets minor league system is worse for having lost a real prospect in Morris.  It’s frustrating that he was traded away for a player that could have been re-signed by the Mets in the offseason.  However, that frustration doesn’t match the frustration Rivera must be feeling now knowing that the Mets may never give him his chance despite him having earned an opportunity.