2022 Mets Report Card: Luis Guillorme, INF

Luis Guillorme

Player Data: Age: 28 (9/27/1994), B/T: L/R
Primary Stats: 102 G, 335 PA, 297 AB, .273/.351/.340/.691, 81 H, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 1 3B, 1 SB

Advanced Stats: 106 wRC+, 13.7% K%, 10.2% BB% .317 BABIP, .302 xwOBA, 1.3 fWAR, 1.6 bWAR
2022 Salary: $875,000

Grade: B 

2022 Review

When the Mets acquired Eduardo Escobar last off-season, the team answered any questions about who the starting third baseman would be heading into the 2022 season. Still, injuries, and the most productive start to Luis Guillorme’s Mets’ career forced manager Buck Showalter‘s hand.

Guillorme’s lion’s share of playing time came at second base, where he played 67 games allowing Showalter to give Jeff McNeil a breather or put the National League’s batting champion in the outfield, where he made 47 starts.

Guillorme, who has always been known for his glove, has a reputation as a bench bat, who will not only work counts, but also put the ball in play consistently. Prior to last season, Guillorme never had more than 156 plate appearances in any season in New York, but heading into the All-Star Break, Guillorme owned a .857 OPS and had some of the best offensive success of his career in the first half of 2022.

His bat, however, would come back down to earth in the second half as the season winded down. A couple weeks later, Guillorme would be diagnosed with a moderate left-groin strain, which cost him four-to-six weeks. At that point in the season, Guillorme was slashing .283/.355/.357 with a .712 OPS on the season.

Even with an uneven showing at the plate, in what ended up being a career year for Guillorme, he had another fantastic season defensively. Guillorme had his best shot at winning a Gold Glove in 2022, as Rawlings announced that it would be recognizing the defensive performances of utility players. Guillorme was ultimately snubbed for the award, which was earned by Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 2022, Guillorme bailed out the Mets defensively on numerous occasions. Guillorme had six Outs Above Average (OAA), which tied Brandon Nimmo for third on the Mets, trailing only Jeff McNeil (8) and Francisco Lindor (13). He also saved a total of five runs from scoring, according to Baseball Savant.

While his bat didn’t reach the level of his glove in 2022, he certainly made strides in the right direction under hitting coach Eric Chavez‘s tutelage. If Guillorme can ever become a consistent hitter, watch out.

2023 Outlook

Barring any unforeseen trades, Guillorme will almost certainly be back with the Mets in 2023. He’s a valuable spot starter, who will be a necessary complement to that of Escobar, Lindor or McNeil off the bench.

While it’s unlikely he’ll be an everyday player for Showalter’s club, there are some scenarios which may enable him to see more playing time going forward. Of course, that depends on a multitude of factors, such as the health of the 28-year-old Guillorme, who played in a career-high 102 games this past season, and who else the Mets bring in this off-season.

Not only can Guillorme start at three different infield positions, but he can do so at a Gold-Glove level. Guillorme’s glove and his ability to come off the bench in a pinch to give the Mets competitive at-bats make him a valuable asset for New York in 2023 and beyond.

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