Mets: Buck Showalter might’ve been too honest about Daniel Vogelbach’s injury

When discussing Daniel Vogelbach’s hamstring issue, New York Mets manager Buck Showalter reminded everyone that the Mets acquired Vogelbach for his hitting prowess and not his speed on the bases.

Acquired by the Mets from the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 22, the 29-year-old Vogelbach has been an offensive godsend in New York at designated hitter, slashing .284/.418/.541 with four home runs and 15 RBI in 91 plate appearances heading into Tuesday night’s cross-borough battle with the New York Yankees.

Vogelbach has cemented himself as not only a top option at DH for the New York Mets but also as a fan favorite for the way he hustles around the bases.

Buck Showalter’s explanation of Daniel Vogelbach’s hamstring injury may be one of the best lines about the New York Mets this season

While the fans enjoy Vogelbach’s running exploits, when he was diagnosed with “high hamstring discomfort,” his manager was quick to point out that it isn’t his running that brings the most value to the Mets.

Expand that quote a little more, as The New York Post did in this article, and you’ll see that Showalter was discussing more about Vogelbach’s abilities at the plate than his physique.

“It doesn’t hurt him or bother him to hit,” Showalter told members of the media. “It’s something that he can play through. I mean this in a nice way: It’s not necessarily taking away from a skill that he brings. He’s still a threat offensively and he can still hit.”

Vogelbach isn’t expected to miss any time with the hamstring issue, meaning the Mets won’t have to do without his bat in the lineup. That’s a big plus for a big man who is a big part of a lineup that will need to continue producing if New York is going to hold off the Atlanta Braves for the National League East title.