When Nick Evans was taken out of the Binghamton Mets’ Friday night game against Reading, getting promoted to the big leagues was the furthest thing from his mind, but as it turns out, Evans was more than ready to make his major league debut.
Evans had made a costly defensive mistake earlier in the game against the Phillies’ Double-A affiliate, as he stood and watched a ball that he was convinced was going foul, drop in fair down the left field line. That batter came all the ways around to score for an inside-the-park home run, so when the B-Mets’ manager, Mako Oliveras, pulled Evans off the field in the middle of an inning, Evans was worried it was for disciplinary reasons. Evans could have never imagined that in less than 24 hours he would be lighting up major league pitchers.
But that is precisely what happened. Batting eighth and playing left field for Willie Randolph’s Mets on Saturday, Evans, who kills lefthanders, had a tremendous day that started with back-to-back doubles against lefty starter Jeff Francis of the Rockies.
Catching an early morning flight to Colorado, Evans was thrown right into the fire: joining a team that was attempting to end a five-game losing and turn their disappointing season around—not an easy spot for a 22-year old rookie who has only spent two months in Double-A.
Evans ended the game 3-for-4 with two RBI, and three doubles before being pulled by Randolph. His debut was the most impressive since first baseman Mike Jacobs’, now playing for Florida, who hit a pinch hit three-run home run off of Esteban Loaiza.
In the immediate future, Evans will help the Mets in the outfield until players like Moises Alou, Angel Pagan, and Marlon Anderson begin to get healthy and come off of the disabled list. He may also spell Carlos Delgado at first base if the veteran needs a rest. Once the Mets can get healthy, expect Evans to be sent to Binghamton or New Orleans to continue to develop. Evans, who only has 171 at bats at the Double-A level, will need more time before he is ready to contribute at the major league level on a daily basis.
Although his stay with the Mets may only be temporary, the memory of Evans’ big league debut is permanent. He will never forget smacking those three doubles in Denver with his family in attendance.
For information on Fernando Martinez and the rest of the Binghamton Mets, read The 2008 Binghamton Mets.
Peter Spiewak - -
