ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MAY 02: Marcus Semien #10 of the New York Mets during warm up before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 02, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The New York Mets entered the 2026 season expecting a new collection of veteran stars to lead them back to the playoffs.
After parting ways with Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo, the team brought in Freddy Peralta, Jorge Polanco and Bo Bichette to lead the new era. But the team has been disappointing as many of its veteran stars have struggled.
Including former Texas Rangers star infielder Marcus Semien.
New York Mets Star Marcus Semien Sees ‘Anemic’ Debut
Semien arrived in Queens with a reputation as one of baseball’s most respected players on and off the field. But the early portion of the season has been defined by questions about his offensive performance.
While Semien has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, his overall numbers have remained well below the standards he established throughout much of his career.
“Even with his recent surge, Semien began play with an anemic .615 OPS for the season,” the New York Post’s Mike Puma wrote. “Among his troubling underlying numbers are an average exit velocity of 86.1 mph that ranked in MLB’s ninth percentile. His average bat speed of 68.4 mph also ranked in MLB’s ninth percentile.”
New York Yankees Superstar Sends New York Mets’ Marcus Semien Message
But amid that difficult stretch, New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole offered a notable endorsement of the Mets veteran while discussing his own involvement with the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) and the upcoming collective bargaining process.
“I was on the executive sub council and a team rep for 10 years before that,” Cole explained to NJ.com’s Randy Miller. “It’s always about passing on to the next generation, but that executive sub council’s smart. (Mets second baseman) Marcus Semien has stayed on. This will be Marcus’s second CBA in that position. God bless him for it. He’s an absolute grinder, a smart guy who loves the game.”
Cole’s comments arrived at a time when Semien has been facing increasing scrutiny, as has his team overall as they fall out of postseason contention once again.
And it underscored a quality about Semien that Mets fans might need some help remembering during the harsh stretch: The infielder’s value has never been limited to his production at the plate.
Throughout his career, he has been regarded as one of baseball’s most durable players and a respected voice in the clubhouse, as well as a great defender. And Cole’s comments highlighted another aspect of that reputation.
While Mets fans are understandably focused on the veteran’s offensive numbers, praise from the Yankees’ six-time All-Star served as a reminder of the respect Semien commands throughout the sport.
As the season progresses, the Mets will be hoping the same determination that earned him that reputation also helps fuel a return to form at the plate.
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