Baseball Phillip Evans: “The Next Big Thing” for the Mets? Will the 25-year old Evans thrive in his first major push in the big leagues? by Daniel Yanofsky March 29, 2018 Looking down the Opening Day roster for the Mets, it’s a who’s who of players. One name that sticks out is someone who was a small blip in the radar when Spring Training began. Now, Phillip Evans is a torpedo, firing at full speed to become a key role player for the Mets. Evans has a chance to prove to the team he belongs, and maybe even create some classic memories along the way. A 15th round pick for the Mets in 2011, Phillip Evans was considered a top commodity for the team early on. There was some radio silence regarding him in the beginning, until recently. Last season, he played in 19 games for the Mets, hitting .303 with a .395 OBP. What did he do during Spring Training? He had an impressive stat line, batting .261 in 46 at-bats, with a .382 OBP and an .838 OPS. Those latter numbers are something to look out for. Looking for any way to prove his worth, Evans’ Cinderella story continues from Port St. Lucie to Flushing. While in the Big Apple, he will look to take advantage of any opportunity he is given. When I say he is “The Next Big Thing”, I don’t mean a Brock Lesnar-like figure. He may not sound like the sexy role player other teams are carrying around, but he doesn’t have to be. Over the years, the most unlikely players have stepped up when needed. Think back to Mike Baxter, Justin Turner and, of course, Wilmer Flores. As of this moment, he is a placement holder for when Michael Conforto returns from the DL. That could all change however, if he, like Brandon Nimmo, can excel at his role. Stranger things have happened, and Evans has been on a role with what he has been given. Opening Day is here, and it’s a moment that Phillip Evans will never forget. After day one, his fate will be up the air. Let’s hope for his sake the Baseball Gods are smiling down on him. Post Views: 1,958 The following two tabs change content below.BioLatest Posts Daniel Yanofsky Baseball Editor, Misc. Sports Editor. Covers all things combat sports (MMA, Pro Wrestling and Boxing). When he's not writing, Daniel hosts a podcast, The Main Event. Latest posts by Daniel Yanofsky (see all) Mets hire Luis Rojas to replace Carlos Beltran as manager - January 23, 2020 An Outsider’s 2020 Hall of Fame Ballot - January 21, 2020 A Wild Yo Sighting: Yoenis Cespedes participates in running, fielding and hitting drills - January 21, 2020 Following Conor McGregor’s win at UFC 246, is “The King” truly back? - January 20, 2020 Related TopicsBaseballMLBMLB Opening DayNew York MetsPhillip Evans 1 Comment You must be logged in to post a comment Login Leave a Reply Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment. Newsletter Subscription Can't Miss Posts! Women in Sports: NHL Network Host, Jackie Redmond by Nicholas Durst | posted on March 4, 2019 From Paramus High School to CBS Sports, Spero Dedes is making waves in sports broadcasting by Sunil Sunder Raj | posted on October 27, 2020 Women in Sports: Podcast Host, New York Riptide Sideline Reporter, Dani Wexelman by Luke Porco | posted on March 3, 2020 Lochte, Dressel and Ledecky all Chasing Gold at 2021 Tokyo Olympics by Anthony Paradiso | posted on April 18, 2021 “Overtime” l Ep. 28: TopSpin Celeb-Athlete Tournament – Dec. 6, 2018 by Stefany Romero | posted on December 19, 2018 More in Baseball You Know I’m Right, Episode 112: New York Jets’ Insider Brian Costello (Audio/Video) On the 112th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 109: The Athletic’s Marc Carig (Audio/Video) On the 109th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 108: WFAN’s Sweeny Murti (Audio/Video) On the 108th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 107: New York Post’s Columnist Mike Vaccaro (Audio/Video) On the 107th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... “Thor” batting 8th? Here is the interesting 2018 Opening Day lineup for the Mets Rockland Boulders right-fielder Mike Montville returns for a 3rd season