Back on the outside looking in, is there a place for Dominic Smith on the Mets?

This past week the Mets brought up Adeiny Hechavarria from Triple-A Syracuse. As a corresponding move, they optioned Dominic Smith. Once considered the odd man out, Smith was productive in his limited role on the major league roster. Now, he is back where he started.

Was there just cause for sending down Dominic Smith?

In a sense, yes. While he was getting some playing time, Smith was regulated to being a true backup, whether in the outfield or at first base. With Pete Alonso excelling, winning Rookie of the Month, and a very crowded outfield thanks to the emergence of Jeff McNeil, where would Smith be if not as a pinch-hitter or a defensive replacement?

There is also a negative factor in sending Smith down. In 29 games with the Mets Smith was batting .333 with four RBIs. Beyond those stats, Smith was doing some very impressive things. His 0.4 fWAR was the fifth-best among the entire team and had a 144 OPS+. His defensive capability was very valuable for a team with quite a few question marks.

As one of the only left-handed batters on the team, the Mets badly need some form of change. As stated before, his role was limited, and continues to do so with the return of Todd Frazier and the eventual return of Jed Lowrie. There may be a chance he can be used as a trade chip, as many teams could use his ability.

At 23, the eleventh overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft appears to be in limbo right now. After struggling for a while to truly find himself, this is the moment Smith appears to be ready to take on the world. With the right opportunity (whether that be a random call-up or via trade), Smith will try and continue to prove his worth.