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Daniel Murphy's slow start could fuel Dilson Herrera promotion

Combine a slow start for current Mets second basemen Daniel Murphy with prospect Dilson Herrera tearing the cover off the ball in Triple A, and the Mets could have quite the problem on their hands.

By Chris Schubert
Daniel Murphy continues to struggle at the plate for the Mets.
Daniel Murphy continues to struggle at the plate for the Mets.
Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

Daniel Murphy is not having the best start to the 2015 season. A .158/.234/.263 line with nine RBIs is not what New York Mets fans are used to seeing from their longtime second baseman.

In a seven-year career, Murphy has averaged a .287/.331/.416 batting line while trading his good offense for some rather interesting defense. This week, Mets fans were reminded of Murphy's spotty glovework when he made a questionable throw home instead of opting for a double play.

Normally, miscues like that are acceptable as long as Murphy is producing at the plate. That hasn't been the case through the first 17 games, though, and unlike in years past the Mets have depth and prospects on the hitting side that are ready to produce for the big club.

One of those prospects, Dilson Herrera, might force the Mets' hand with his hot start at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Herrera showed some promise in a short stint with the team last season, hitting .220/.303/.407 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 18 games. He is on the Mets' 40-man roster, so a call-up is easy from a roster-management standpoint. The Mets presumably want Herrera to get regular playing time, so it's unlikely that they'd promote him unless they intended for him to play nearly every day.

Murphy has been a steady bat for so long that he will be given the opportunity to get back to his old offensive ways. He showed signs of it during the last game of a three-game set with the Atlanta Braves, with two hits and four RBIs. It's not clear how much longer the Mets will give him to turn things around, but if Herrera keeps raking in Las Vegas, the pressure on Murphy to hit—and for the Mets to make a move—will continue to mount.

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