Spring Training is right around the corner for the New York Mets, as pitchers and catchers will begin their workouts in less than two weeks. Position players will return to the diamond five days later in preparation for their first series against the Miami Marlins.
After a crucial offseason, spring training will give the club a glimpse of its projected lineup heading into its season opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mets we’ve come to know look quite different than the last four years, meaning growing pains are expected. But those problems can be overcome if they are willing to set some key goals ahead of spring training.
Experiment With the New Infield
Out of the Mets’ entire roster, the infield is where the majority of their strength comes from.
Francisco Lindor remains at shortstop, but the rest looks a little different. Brandon Nimmo was sent to the Texas Rangers for infielder Marcus Semien, who will start at second base.
The team signed Jorge Polanco to be their first baseman and designated hitter, similar to what Pete Alonso did. And to top it off, Bo Bichette was brought in to play third base. But Polanco and Bichette have yet to play either position at the major league level.
Spring training provides a chance for the team to experiment with what works and doesn’t work in their outfield. It will take some time to get used to, but the Mets might have put together one of the top infields in the league.
Develop the Prospects
The Mets are home to an array of highly talented prospects who can develop into franchise players. They’ve already seen this happen with Alonso and Nimmo, who left the organization this offseason. With both players gone, their next course of action will be to develop prospects Carson Benge, Nolan McLean, and Jonah Tong.
Luckily, spring training is the best time for each player to gain more experience. This will be increasingly beneficial for the development of McLean, who made his major league debut last season. The 24-year-old’s 5–1 record and 2.06 ERA present him as one of the Mets’ more promising prospects, but he can further develop if given more playing time.
The same can be said for Benge, who is looking to make his major league debut in 2026. He is slotted to be in the starting rotation, but that can change when the season gets underway. Spring training gives Benge an excellent opportunity to show the organization what he can do against tough competition. He’s already done so in the minors, tallying 139 hits, 28 doubles, 17 home runs and 81 RBI in two seasons.
Get the Pitchers Loose
The pitching staff’s health was a concern for the Mets due to multiple starters going down with injuries. Kodai Senga, for example, was sidelined due to a painful hamstring strain. The team placed him on the injured reserve list, as he regressed significantly.
But Segna isn’t alone. Lefty Sean Manaea was sidelined for a significant period of last season due to multiple injuries. When healthy, he is a key contributor to the club’s success, as exemplified by his 12–6 record and 3.47 ERA in 2024.
The Mets will have a chance to make injuries a thing of the past when spring training starts. This pertains specifically to Senga, whose career was derailed by injuries. He was an All-Star in his rookie year but missed the entire 2024 season due to a calf strain.
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