Yoenis Cespedes is the ultimate wild card for Mets

Yoenis Cespedes needs to stay healthy to be a bright spot for the New York Mets in 2020.

Yoenis Cespedes will be entering his fifth season with the New York Mets hoping to bounce back from an ankle injury he suffered in May, according to the New York Post.

Cespedes has been plagued by injuries since July of 2018 due to season-ending heel surgeries and then the latest one on his ranch in Port St. Lucie, Florida, thanks to a wild boar. The seven-year veteran has had the short end of the stick with injuries since signing a four-year, $110 million extension with the Mets in 2016.

Cespedes has only played in 119 games since then and recorded 122 hits, 71 RBIs, 66 runs and 26 home runs in that span. The 34-year old left fielder will be looking to reclaim the glory days seeing as he is a two-time All-Star, two-time Home Run Derby winner, Gold Glove winner with the Detroit Tigers and an NL Silver Slugger with the Mets in 2016.

According to Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News, the Mets saw good things from Cespedes as they were preparing to play the Subway Series exhibition games against the New York Yankees. Infielder J.D. Davis said Cespedes was moving well and spoke highly of his knowledge of the game.

The Mets have an opportunity with Cespedes healthy to take control of the NL East after finishing third behind the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves with an 86-76 record last season. Cespedes is one of their best assets offensively and connects with pitches often. He finished the 2018 season with a .262 batting average.

The Mets are better with Cespedes on the field than without him. He and Pete Alonso together hitting efficiently could prove to be a good thing for the Mets. Their 2020 season will begin against the Atlanta Braves with a three-game home series starting Friday, July 24 on ESPN.