Hot Start Bodes Well for Lucas Duda, Mets

Last season, New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda posted solid power numbers, slugging 30 home runs and 92 RBI with .481 slugging percentage.

Going into this year, he was expected to prove that last campaign’s offense output wasn’t a fluke.

So far, although he has only one homer through 12 games, Duda is rapping .370 with eight RBI and a .587 slugging percent, making the Mets and General Manager Sandy Alderson look good as they decided to keep him instead of Ike Davis, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates early last season.

What’s more surprising is the Los Angeles native hit .180 with just two home runs in 125 plate appearances against lefties last year. This season, he’s 4-8, including a seventh-inning single against Marlins lefty Mike Dunn on Thursday to knock in the go-ahead run. While it’s a small sample size, it’s encouraging nonetheless.

Duda is currently in the last year of his contract before he is arbitration eligible. The Mets and Duda decided not to talk contract during the season.

If you ask me, they need to lock him up soon because they don’t have any other hitters on the team who strike a measure of fear into the opposing pitchers’ hearts at this time.

The biggest thing is that Duda looks like he has more of a clue at the plate, and could be that game-changer for the Mets as they contend for a playoff spot this season. So why not sign the 29-yer-old 6’ 4”, 255-pound slugger to a reasonable deal before he asking price increases?

I guess we’ll have to take a wait-and-see approach.