Hours after tests confirmed that Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud had a fractured metacarpal and would have to wear a splint on his right hand for the next three weeks, he took his replacement, Kevin Plawecki, out to dinner Monday night.
The meal was more than a congratulatory gesture toward a rookie getting the call-up to the majors. D’Arnaud wanted to ensure that Plawecki was prepared for the daily tasks ahead as the team’s primary catcher.
Plawecki made a sterling first impression, going 2 for 4 and scoring two runs in his first major league game, as the Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves, 7-1, at Citi Field for their ninth straight victory.