Dominic Smith cut by Mets, appears headed to Las Vegas

First baseman Dominic Smith, who appears headed for Triple-A Las Vegas, was among the nine prospects in the New York Mets’ first round of cuts on Saturday.

Smith, the Mets’ second-ranked prospect, hit .185 in big league camp in 27 at-bats this spring.

“I thought he didn’t hit like he normally does,” Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters in Florida. “I think he’s always hit. The thing I was impressed most with is he came into camp in great shape. That’s impressive for a young guy.”

Smith told reporters he reported to camp 24 pounds lighter a year after hitting .302 with 14 home runs and 91 RBIs in 130 games for Double-A Binghamton.

Shortstop Amed Rosario, the team’s No. 1 prospect, is still in the major league camp after the first round of cuts, but he is also expected to begin the season in Las Vegas after hitting .341 with 73 hits in 54 games at Double-A Binghamton last season.

The Mets’ other cuts Saturday were P.J. Conlon, David Roseboom, Kevin McGowan, Corey Taylor, Logan Taylor, Phillip Evans, Luis Guillorme and Champ Stuart.

Of that group, only McGowan has appeared at Triple A, pitching in 1 2/3 innings for the 51s last season.

Many of the players appeared at Double-A Binghamton, including Roseboom and Logan Taylor, who both spent the entire year there.

51S IN THE WBC

In the past week, the 51s have had a chance to showcase themselves in international play at the World Baseball Classic.

Seth Lugo of Puerto Rico impressed, tossing 5 1/3 innings of one-hit ball Friday against Venezuela’s lineup of All-Stars.

Also in that game, Puerto Rico’s T.J. Rivera hit a two-run homer to end the game via the mercy rule.

As of Sunday morning, Rivera was hitting .143, Brandon Nimmo was hitting .200 for Italy, Gavin Cecchini was hitting .250 for Italy and Ty Kelly .250 for Israel.

FEDDE OFF TO SCORELESS START

Las Vegas native and former UNLV pitcher Erick Fedde tossed three scoreless innings Saturday facing a lineup comprised of six of the Mets’ regulars mixed with a few prospects, including two — Rosario and Matt Reynolds — expected to start the season with the 51s.

Fedde, a first-round draft pick in 2014, is the Washington Nationals’ top pitching prospect. He has tossed seven scoreless innings in three spring training outings.

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