Once Neil Walker pulled up lame when he tried to bunt for a single, every Mets fan had two thoughts:

1. [Expletive Deleted]
2. Will this lead to the Mets calling up Amed Rosario?

Apparently, the answer is no. After Walker’s injury, we were all waiting to see if Rosario would be removed from the Las Vegas 51s lineup. He wasn’t. Rather, it was Gavin Cecchini. Suffice it to say, this is not the guy Mets fans wanted to see.

That goes double when you consider how much he is slumping this year.  In 62 games in Triple-A, Cecchini is only hitting .249/.313/.349 with 14 doubles, a triple, three homers, 17 RBI, and three stolen bases.  In a league where everybody is hitting, Cecchini isn’t, and he has a 74 wRC+.

This is not the same Cecchini who had a breakout season last year.  In 117 games for Las Vegas last year, Cecchini hit .325/.390/.448 with 27 doubles, two triples, eight homers, 55 RBI, and four stolen bases.  His terrific play last year earned him a September call-up.  In this limited time he played down the stretch, Cecchini did not looked over-matched.  In his seven plate appearances, he hit two doubles with two RBI with a hit by pitch.

The stark difference between 2016 and 2017 leads you searching for answers.  The answer is likely a mix between Cecchini has been less selective at the plate, and he’s hitting into some hard luck.

Cecchini has seen his walk rate drop from 9.6% to 8.0%, and his strike out rate jump from 11.0% to 13.5%.  While, this is a relatively small move, we do see some implications across the board.  Cecchini’s isolated power has dropped from .125 in 2015 and .123 in 2016 to .100 this year.  His BABIP has gone from .348 in 2015 and .357 in 2016 to just .282 this year.

Going a little deeper, Cecchini is hitting more fly balls than last year and fewer ground balls and line drives. For a player who is a gap-to-gap doubles hitter, this is death.  At this point in his career, Cecchini just doesn’t have the type of power to make his living as a fly ball hitter.

It is possible Cecchini’s struggles has to do with his position change.  With his defensive struggles last year and with Rosario starting the year in Las Vegas, Cecchini has transitioned to second base.  At the same time, he is working on becoming more versatile in the field.  He has played six games at shortstop this year, and he has reportedly been working at third base.

Fortunately, the switch to second base has gone extraordinarily well for Cecchini.  He has really put his time in there, and he has become a good defensive second baseman.  Of course, the time he has spent there may have detracted from the work he has typically done at the plate.  If that isn’t the answer, it could just be the mental drain from shifting positions. Long story short, there’s no simple explanation.

Whatever it is, Cecchini has an opportunity here.  He is likely getting called up soon where he will at least have a chance to compete with T.J. Rivera for the starting second base job.  He will also have the opportunity to work with Kevin Long to help him return to the hitter he was the past two years. He also has a chance to show the Mets he is the second baseman of the future.

Like it or not, Cecchini is the guy getting called up now.  There is every chance this is the right move for both him and the Mets.  The Mets calling him up is certainly a defensible choice.  Still, Rosario should have been on the plane from Vegas with him.