With Mark Vientos promoted, Mets send Luis Guillorme to minors
Luis Guillorme #13 of the Mets strikes out during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field on Saturday, May 6, 2023. Credit: Jim McIsaac
A big downside of Wednesday’s callup of top prospect Mark Vientos — at least for Mets manager Buck Showalter — was the identity of the player the team sent down to the minors to make room: Showalter favorite Luis Guillorme.
With a roster full of guaranteed contracts, Guillorme became the odd man out because he had minor-league options left. Showalter told the 28-year-old, six-year veteran of the team’s decision on Wednesday.
Was that a tough conversation?
“Yes,” Showalter said. “Luis has been a guy, when you’re around him as much as we are and his teammates (are), it’s kind of a fallout of not playing as well as we need to. So you hate to . . . it's not his fault completely. All of us share in some of the challenges we faced.
“But it's not a fun conversation. But it's one that has to be had. You try to have it early and try to listen and give them their space. It’s tough. But it’s one of those things you’ve got to do in this job. It's not fun. It’s not my favorite thing, that's for sure.”
Guillorme was batting .233 with a .590 OPS in 60 at-bats. Eduardo Escobar, who started at second base on Wednesday, becomes the backup shortstop. Escobar has played 329 career games at shortstop, but just one since 2018 (two innings in 2021 for Arizona).
Sky-high Walker
The Mets haven’t had a lot of feel-good stories this season. But one they did on Tuesday was the big-league debut of lefthander Josh Walker, who pitched a scoreless inning (two walks) in the Mets’ 8-5 loss to the Rays.
Walker, 28, was a 37th-round pick of the Mets in 2017. He hails from Otisville, N.Y., which is in Orange County, and went to the University of New Haven.
Walker’s minor-league career has been plagued by injuries. He appeared in nine games for Triple-A Syracuse this season and had an 0.95 ERA. He was called up on Tuesday and entered the game in the seventh inning.
“It was pretty, surreal, honestly,” Walker said. “But the big thing that came to mind was just gratitude. A lot of gratitude for the opportunity, the people that called me up here having faith in me, and a lot of people along the way. My friends, coaches, trainers all down the line that helped me get to this point. The Mets sticking with me. Been in this (organization) a long time, through injuries and the bumpy road a lot of people go through. To make it here was unreal. Being out there, couldn’t feel my body that entire inning. It was crazy. But just a lot of gratitude. Trying to take it all in. “
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
