Associated Press
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Nothing has come easy for Benny Agbayani in his journey from 30th round draft choice to major league starter.
Toiling in the minor leagues, Agbayani quickly learned well that top draft choices are given more time to develop, while lower round selections have to produce and improve on a daily basis.
"I’m always going to be in that mode," Agbayani said Saturday at the New York Mets spring training camp. "I worked so hard to get here and I know I don’t want anyone to take my position, so I have to work even harder."
So far, the former St. Louis School and Hawai‘i Pacific University standout has put up numbers for the Mets that have repelled any advance by those looking to replace him in the Mets outfield. He hit .289 last season with 15 home runs and 60 RBIs in 119 games. He’s also getting a reputation as a clutch hitter.
He hit a game-winning home run in the 13th inning of Game 3 against San Francisco in last year’s National League Division Series. In Game 3 of the World Series, his double against the Yankees broke a 2-2 tie and led the Mets to a 4-2 victory.
"That’s when you have to show your stuff, you’ve got to be on top of your game and that’s the way I wanted my game to be," Agbayani said. "I wanted to do everything possible so when it was over — win or lose — inside of me I would always know I did my best."
Just reaching the World Series last season was a lifelong climb for Agbayani.
"As a kid you dream about playing in the big leagues and playing in the Worlds Series, and for me it was a dream come true," Agbayani said. "I always wanted to play in the big leagues and it was a bonus to play in the World Series."
However, even with those dreams realized, Agbayani remembers the lesson and strives to become an even better player.
"I can still pick up a lot, you think you know, but you don’t really know," Agbayani said of learning the game. "This game has changed in a lot of ways, there’s a lot of technology out there you can use for improvement."
And there are also ways to improve by repetition, especially on defense.
"He could be an outstanding defensive player some day," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "He’s gone from being adequate a couple of years ago, to acceptable, to at least average, if not a notch above."
Agbayani knows his defense needs work if he wants to avoid being replaced late in close games.
"I’m not going to be a Gold Glover, but I want to make sure I can handle myself out there from the first inning to the ninth inning," Agbayani said.
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