Travis d’Arnaud excited to return to Las Vegas for Big League Weekend

Major League Baseball players have nightmares of returning to the minor league field where their path to the big show started.

Going back to the minors usually means two things: rehab assignment or not ready for the bright lights.

Travis d’Arnaud spent seven years in the minors before making his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 2013. The catcher since has been sent down a couple of times, including multiple stops in Las Vegas with the 51s, the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate.

D’Arnaud is back in the 702 area code, but he has nothing to worry about. He’ll be on the Opening Day roster when the Mets start the season Sunday against the Kansas City Royals in a World Series rematch.

Before New York travels to Kansas City, the Mets will face the Chicago Cubs at Cashman Field for the annual Big League Weekend. The two-game series starts at 5:05 p.m. today and concludes with a 1:05 p.m. game Friday.

D’Arnaud, who has played 86 games for the 51s since 2012, said he’s excited to see his friends at Cashman Field, including Mary Wilmore, the dugout security guard who always greeted the catcher with a smile.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun to see where I started with this organization,” d’Arnaud said. “(Las Vegas) was a fun city, a good front office, everyone up and down that works there was awesome. I specifically remember Mary very well. She always made sure I had a smile on my face. I’m looking forward to getting back there.”

The 27-year-old d’Arnaud is expected to be the Opening Day catcher and could be set for a breakout 2016. He played a big part in the Mets’ playoff run to the World Series in October.

He’s not the only former 51 returning this week with MLB establishment. Lucas Duda (first base), Jeurys Familia (right-handed pitcher), Wilmer Flores (shortstop), Juan Lagares (outfield), Steven Matz (left-handed pitcher), Kevin Plawecki (catcher), Hansel Robles (right-handed pitcher) and Noah Syndergaard (right-handed pitcher) have all donned 51s jerseys.

The Cubs, who lost to the Mets in the National League Championship Series in October, also have Las Vegas ties with star third baseman Kris Bryant, a Bonanza High product and 2015 NL Rookie of the Year.

Bryant exploded onto the scene by driving in 99 runs and hitting 26 home runs. He is now in the class of another Las Vegas slugger, Bryce Harper.

Flores also made headlines in 2015, but in a different way from Bryant. The Mets’ Venezuelan infielder is known for crying on the field after finding out he was going to get traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. The trade never happened, and Flores helped the Mets win the NL pennant.

“Definitely ups and downs, but it was a big year,” Flores said. “It was a fun ride.”

Flores, 24, has been with the Mets since age 16 and spent two stints with the 51s. Flores played 107 games in Las Vegas in 2013 and 55 in 2014.

“One thing I remember about Las Vegas was that it was really hot,” Flores said. “At one point during the season we couldn’t practice, just play in games because it was too hot.”

The Cubs are Las Vegas regulars. They have recorded 16 sellouts in the past 11 seasons for their annual Big League Weekend visits to Cashman.

“That’s going to be a great tuneup,” d’Arnaud said of facing the Cubs. “They’re an all-star caliber team, a winning team, a great organization up and down, and they all believe in winning. It’s going to be a great way to end spring training with a team like that.”

Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0492. Follow him on Twitter: @gmanzano24