Yoenis Cespedes is one of several National League players who could benefit from Major League Baseball implementing a universal designated hitter this season. Judging by Michael Conforto’s level of excitement about Cespedes, the veteran outfielder could give the New York Mets a major boost in a shortened year.
Cespedes appears to be healthy entering the 2020 season. After Saturday’s workout at Citi Field, Conforto said Cespedes “looks like a monster.”
“He looks like a monster,” Conforto said, via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “He looks like he’s motivated. He looks like he’s in shape. I’ve seen some of the stuff he was doing to get himself ready, some videos of him working out at his ranch. The guy is definitely hungry. He misses the game.”
DiComo shared a video of Cespedes taking batting practice, and it looked like he hit some bombs.
Here's Yoenis Céspedes taking batting practice at Citi Field. The first and last swings were homers.
(If you listen closely at the very end, you can hear a thud as the ball strikes a seat in left field.) pic.twitter.com/xESP8C8rD9
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 4, 2020
Conforto added that being able to get Cespedes into the lineup every day using the DH could be “absolutely incredible” for the Mets. Cespedes will likely be limited in the field after he missed the entire 2019 season with a fractured ankle he suffered at his ranch. The 34-year-old also had multiple heel surgeries before that.
There was a lot of disappointment in Cespedes over the way he suffered his ankle injury, so he should have plenty to prove in a shortened season. The new DH rule will help him with that.
