Jaylen Palmer, Photo by Ed Delany of MMNJaylen Palmer is a Flushing, NY kid who still has not found a home with his hometown New York Mets. Four years after being drafted, he’s still all over the field.
Since his professional debut, the high school shortstop has played second, third, short, and all three outfield positions. One of the reasons why is he has the speed and athleticism to play each position on the diamond.
We saw a glimpse of that athleticism and speed during spring training when he made a diving catch robbing a hit:
What a catch by Jaylen Palmer! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/SlA6myXTe0
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 3, 2022
Avasail Garcia hit a sinking liner to center. Palmer got a great read and jump to catch a ball few can catch.
MMO‘s Mathew Brownstein noted the batted ball had an expected batting average of .770. Put another way, no one makes this play. However, Palmer did.
It’s one of the reasons he’s such a well regarded prospect. When MMN rated him as the Mets 18th best prospect, his physical tools and how they translated in the field were noted.
Keep in mind, Palmer isn’t just impressing in center. Earlier in camp, MMN‘s own Michael Mayer noted Palmer has performed well at third this spring.
Where he eventually plays full time is anyone’s guess. That said, as we’ve seen from Jeff McNeil before him, that versatility helps to get a player on the field, and it makes it all the more difficult to take him off of it.
No one is looking to leave Palmer off the field. Rather, we are looking to see where he plays next and on a game-by-game basis. As we’ve seen this spring, one day it’s a good day at third, and the next, he’s robbing batters of hits.
Certainly, he will be getting playing time in Brooklyn this season. It would be fitting his return home may be how he finds his place on the field. Seeing plays like that, you’re inclined to say center or wherever else needed.
