A beloved former New York Met, Tomás Nido, has been designated for assignment by the surprising Detroit Tigers, a team widely considered a contender for a playoff spot and potentially even a World Series run. The news sent a ripple of confusion through the baseball world, as Nido, filling in for the injured Jake Rogers at catcher, was hitting an astounding .343 for the Tigers.
Nido, who spent the first eight years of his professional career with the Mets, had been a familiar face behind the plate for the Amazin’s. During his tenure in Queens, his offensive numbers were never a highlight, as he batted a career .214/.251/.313/.564 with 16 home runs and 82 RBIs in 895 plate appearances. He was known more for his defensive prowess, his ability to handle a pitching staff, and his surprisingly strong arm. Mets fans had a certain affection for Nido, a testament to his quiet professionalism and the sense that he always gave his all.
The unpacking of Tomas Nido’s unexpected production
The hitting profile of Tomás Nido has remained remarkably consistent throughout his career, and this year, despite the gaudy average, is no different. Nido has consistently been cataloged as a good defender at the catching position with the skills to put the ball in play, but with a notable lack of power and, at times, poor pitch recognition.
While Nido is hitting nearly .350, some underlying metrics suggest this level of production is not sustainable in the near future. According to Statcast, his expected batting average (xBA) is a more modest .264, while his expected slugging percentage (xSLG) sits at just .331. This discrepancy arises because Nido has one of the lowest hard-hit contact rates at the position, and remarkably, has not drawn a single walk all season, indicating a high reliance on balls in play to generate hits.
However, one of the most concerning aspects for Nido, and a major factor explaining the Tigers’ decision to let him go, is the significant decline in his defensive metrics at catcher compared to previous seasons. This is particularly alarming given that Nido’s main selling point has always been his framing ability and arm strength at the position, both typically above the league average. In terms of blocking pitches, Nido is ranked in the bottom 18% of the league. Furthermore, his arm speed and agility in throwing out baserunners, as measured by the pop time to second base metric, have deteriorated to levels too low to justify a permanent position in MLB.
On the offensive side, given his inability to induce power into his swing, Nido has predominantly generated singles, while his strikeout rate is the highest it has been since 2023. However, Nido has managed to improve in areas relevant to his contact-oriented batting profile by trying to elevate the ball less and hitting a higher proportion of line drives, which guarantees greater efficiency for his zero-power hitter approach.
While the Tigers certainly could have utilized Nido’s unexpected offensive output during their quest for a postseason spot, his unsustainable hitting metrics combined with a concerning decline in his once-elite defensive capabilities made him an easier player for them to part ways with. It’s a harsh reality of professional baseball, where even a hot bat can’t always compensate for underlying regressions.
