Mets activate Jay Bruce, recall Tomas Nido, and option Dom Smith and Jack Reinheimer to Triple-A

The Mets have activated Jay Bruce from the disabled list and called up Tomas Nido from Double-A Binghamton. To correspond with these moves, the club has optioned Dom Smith and Jack Reinheimer to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Bruce has not appeared in a game for the Mets since June 17 and landed on the disabled list two days later with a sore right hip. However, he has been held back by a myriad of nagging injuries, including plantar fasciitis in his left foot. As a result, Bruce has posted a meager 69 wRC+ and a -0.3 fWAR on the season.

In 62 games, Bruce has hit .212/.292/.321. After averaging just under 30 home runs over his last seven seasons, he has only produced just three this year. The numbers are even worse in the weeks leading up to his disabled list trip. In his 50 at-bats, he had just seven hits (three doubles) and posted a .446 OPS and a 26 wRC+.

Bruce spent much of his rehab at Single-A Port St. Lucie playing first base as opposed to his regular right field position. In order to keep his legs healthy, he is expected to spend a lot of time at first base for the remainder of the season. He is signed for two more years after 2018, so his health and performance will be a key area of interest for the final five weeks.

The Mets are also calling up Nido after Devin Mesoraco left yesterday’s game in the fourth inning with neck stiffness. While Mesoraco will likely need to sit for a few days to let his neck heal, he doesn’t expect to land on the disabled list according to Tim Healey. Plawecki is also expected to head to the paternity list “any day now”, which means that Nido will likely get an opportunity to start at some point during this big league stint.

The 24-year-old has struggled in limited big league action this year, collecting just seven hits in 48 at-bats. He has looked considerably better at the Double-A level, slashing .274/.298/.437 with a 100 wRC+ in 58 games for Binghamton.

Smith had just six at-bats since his most recent call up and collected a double and a home run in that time. However, he made a costly mistake in the 13th inning of Monday night’s loss. Smith interfered with Amed Rosario on a pop up that was eventually dropped and resulted in the game-winning run crossing the plate. With Bruce at first base and with Smith’s left field defense an area of great weakness, he has seen very little playing time and very few chances to contribute at the major league level.

Reinheimer, whom the Mets claimed off waivers on July 31, picked up four hits in 14 at-bats since his mid-August call up. During that stretch, he saw time at shortstop, third base, and left field.