Things just keep getting worse for New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis.
He had an OPS in the .500 range (read: terrible) through the first two months of the season, and just when it seemed as if he was getting his act together, Davis exited Saturday night’s game with an apparent oblique injury. ESPN’s Adam Rubin revealed that Davis’s initial diagnosis is a strained right oblique, and with that news, it is now likely that Davis will miss the remainder of the 2013 season.
Davis has a big-time power pedigree, which lends itself to the Mets giving him repeated chances to prove himself. He blasted 32 home runs in 2012 (despite a .227 batting average), and flashes power that is rare even at the power-rich position of first base. However, his strikeout rate is almost comical at times (career 24.0% and 26.9% in 2013), and until he fixes that issue, his ceiling is limited.
The Mets have a big decision moving forward at first base, as Davis could realistically be non-tendered next year. It is probably too early to speculate on future plans for Davis, but if this injury is serious enough for him to miss the season, the chatter will get louder in New York.