CHICAGO — Bobby Abreu is enjoying the ride.
The 40-year-old Mets outfielder comes to the ballpark each day not only savoring the opportunity to still play major league baseball, but also as someone relied upon to contribute.
“I think to be around with these young guys, they make you feel younger.” Abreu said
Wednesday before the Mets faced the Cubs at Wrigley Field. “You just enjoy the moments with them and they make you feel good, every day joking around, which is nice. We’re just starting to know each other.”
He entered play with a .309 average and a .882 OPS in 55 at-bats and has become difficult to remove from the Mets lineup.
After going jobless last season, Abreu played in Venezuela over the winter and earned an invite to spring training by the Phillies, but was released before the end of camp. The Mets signed Abreu to a minor league deal on March 31, and over the last six weeks Abreu has resembled this year’s version of Marlon Byrd for the club.
Byrd was clinging to his major league career when he signed a minor league deal with the Mets before the 2013 season, but had a breakout year that ultimately earned him a two-year contract worth $16 million with the Phillies.
The Mets have needed Abreu’s production, especially because Chris Young and Curtis Granderson are struggling. But manager Terry Collins also wants to ensure Abreu doesn’t get burned out along the way.
“He’s the professional hitter and he means a lot when he’s in there,” manager Terry Collins said. “He has a great approach at the plate, you can’t fool him and right now he’s swinging the bat good. He gets the hits and it’s all because we’re getting him in there. But at his age and this time in his career, he’s not a guy you’re going to run out there every day.”
Abreu recently completed a stretch in which he started five times in six games, but realizes he’s here to play on a part-time basis.
“They have got some young guys with fresh legs that can play outfield,” Abreu said. “They play very well and they have to be there — and you know your role.
“I know my role is going to be to come off the bench and prepare myself for a pinch hit and once in awhile whenever they need somebody to rest those guys, I’m going to be in the outfield. I know I don’t want to be in the outfield every day. That’s fine for me. I’ve got no problem with that.”
Collins called it surprising that Abreu could miss an entire season at this stage in his career and return with such a bang. But Abreu said he’s refreshed.
“The last two or three years I wasn’t quite hitting the ball the way I wanted to,” he said. “Right now it’s more consistent and more quality at-bats.”
Collins said he is glad to have the entire package — a productive player who serves as a mentor to the younger players.
“He talks to those guys all the time about hitting,” Collins said. “All the time it’s about how to prepare to hit and prepare to pinch hit.”