Mets’ Dominic Smith ‘healthy’ and says he won’t ever play hurt again

PORT ST. LUCIE — Buck Showalter stated earlier this week that Dominic Smith acquired “un-Dom-like” final season.

It seems the Mets first baseman/left fielder might have had a very good cause for that: {a partially} torn labrum in his proper shoulder.

Smith stated on Friday that it was vital to him to play by the damage and never make a giant deal about it — he additionally performed by wrist and groin accidents that have been beforehand disclosed — however that he wouldn’t make the identical mistake once more sooner or later.

“I’m glad I’m healthy now,” Smith stated. “That’s probably something I won’t do in the future, playing [through] stuff like that, because I wasn’t able to play well through it. But I’m just happy that I’m here, I’m happy the Mets still value me and I can’t wait to get out there and play.”

Smith, a possible commerce candidate throughout the offseason, nonetheless performed in 145 video games final season however hit simply .244 with 11 house runs and an 84 OPS-plus (100 being league common). It was a far cry from 2019-2020, when he mixed to hit .299 with 21 house runs and a 150 OPS-plus throughout 139 video games. While Smith stated he additionally struggled with chasing dangerous pitches final season, the partially torn labrum additionally impacted the comply with by on his swing.

“If you guys watch video, my whole career I would finish with one arm,” he stated. “But final yr you’d see after the primary month, I began ending with two arms. That was as a result of I had the [subluxation] in my shoulder.

Smith stated he has not gotten an MRI examination to see if the labrum has totally healed. But he regarded lots wholesome when he hit two house runs off Max Scherzer in a simulated sport Wednesday.

The damage — first reported by SI.com — didn’t require offseason surgical procedure, however as a substitute a mixture of relaxation and bodily remedy to strengthen the realm round it.

Showalter stated Friday he hoped Smith would deal with the same damage scenario “differently” if it occurs once more, however credited him for not utilizing it as an excuse.

“Obviously if I’m in pain I’m not going to try to push it,” Smith stated. “But it’s simply one thing as a younger child, my dad at all times taught me in the event you can play, in the event you’re not harm to the purpose the place you want surgical procedure, then you need to go on the market and carry out. That’s one thing that’s at all times caught with me. I’ve heard of Wally Pipp and that story, in order that’s at all times caught with me.

“But obviously it affected my play too much last year and it’s something I’m going to be smarter about in the future.”