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A look back at the Las Vegas 51s’ season

A month before the season ended, 51s manager Pedro Lopez was already thinking of next season and what adjustments could be made.

The 51s finished their year on Monday with the worst record in the Pacific Coast League at 56-86 and Lopez vowed that 2018 would be different after the team narrowly avoided setting the mark for the franchise’s worst record.

There were positives throughout the season, including the development of some of the organization’s top prospects, but the 51s felt the effect of a season filled with Mets injuries.

Here’s a look at three of the important storylines from the season that was:

Development of prospects

The 51s began the season with the two New York Mets top prospects — Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith. They didn’t disappoint, becoming the team’s top performers and eventually earning themselves promotions.

Rosario hit .328 with 129 hits in 94 games while Smith hit .330 with 151 hits and 16 home runs in his 114 games in Las Vegas.

Lopez said both were supposed to work on their plate discipline in Las Vegas and he thought they did that. He also noted an defensive improvement from Rosario.

“In that regard, I thought that we exceeded the expectations,” Lopez said. “I thought that the plan that we put out there for them, it was well executed and they got better.”

Many other players who started the season with Las Vegas also got extended opportunities in New York thanks to Mets injuries, including Las Vegas locals Paul Sewald and Chasen Bradford who both made their debuts this season.

After three years, right fielder Travis Taijeron finally made his major league debut. Pitcher Tyler Pill pitched his way onto radar, making his major league debut after success at Triple-A, too.

“We got guys better. We got guys to the big leagues and that’s what really counts,” Lopez said. “Just like I told the guys, I know it kind of sucks coming in and looking at the record and looking at the win and loss column and reflecting on it but at the end of the day, I know there were a lot of guys that got better.”

Mets injuries disrupt 51s roster

Part of the reason so many 51s players got opportunities was the rash of injuries facing the Mets.

That started before the beginning of the season with Seth Lugo and Steven Matz dealing with elbow injuries that kept them both out for a lengthy period of time and affected the way the 51s roster looked from the start.

“It was tough, Lopez said. “A lot of call ups early on and we weren’t able to establish that good chemistry in the clubhouse and I think (it was) great bunch of guys — I couldn’t ask for better guys — but I just think with so many guys going up and going down, I think that was kind of hard. It puts us in a different spot, in a tough spot in the lineup and where to play guys and so forth.”

Though it happens with every club, the Mets were especially hit hard with injuries, especially to their rotation.

“I know were at the mercy of the big league club but we’ve still got to go out there,” Lopez said. “We’ve still got to perform.”

The introduction of Reyes de Plata

In late July, Minor League Baseball launched an initiative “Es Divertido Ser Un Fan,” to connect with Hispanic/Latino fans.

The program made its debut in four markets, including Las Vegas, where the 51s transformed into the Reyes de Plata (Silver Kings) for three games this season.

It will continue into next season where the 51s will play as the Reyes de Plata during every Tuesday home game.

“I think the exposure was great. I think the logo was great. Obviously the merchandise was good,” team president Don Logan said. “As much as anything, it’s an awareness thing and that’s what the whole initiative was from Minor League Baseball’s perspective just to honor and let our Latin communities all around the country know that we appreciate the influence that Latin Americans (and) Latin players … have had on our game.”

More 51s: Follow all of our Las Vegas 51s coverage online at reviewjournal.com/51s and @RJ_Sports on Twitter.

Contact Betsy Helfand at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BetsyHelfand on Twitter

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