PORT ST. LUCIE — Brandon Nimmo is now again in motion for the Mets, thanks partially to some new footwear. The Mets outfielder performed in his first Grapefruit League recreation of the season Friday after getting the go-ahead from the coaching workers. Whereas he’s nonetheless being cautious to keep away from aggravating the plantar fasciitis in his left foot, a shoe swap over the winter has Nimmo on monitor.
Nimmo went looking for solutions for the painful situation this winter, beforehand opening up concerning the quite a few remedies he obtained to deliver down the irritation within the fascia, the band of tissue that runs alongside the underside of the foot supporting the arch. His earlier footwear had been stretching the fascia in a detrimental means.
The primary swap he made was to a barefoot kind of coaching shoe for his exercises and for batting follow. It’s a light-weight, versatile coaching shoe with a large toe field that permits him to unfold out his toes.
However the cleats are key for Nimmo, who switched to sporting Marucci’s model new baseball cleats after beforehand sporting Below Armour and New Stability. Marucci solely entered the footwear realm just lately, releasing their first baseball cleats in December. The corporate tapped a former Nike worker who labored with monitor athletes on customized footwear to assist with the engineering and building of the cleats, one thing Nimmo discovered intriguing. If he continues to put on them, he’ll doubtless be among the many first to take action within the huge leagues.
The brand new cleats even have a wider toe field and lighter cleat plate. Very like the barefoot footwear, they’re extra light-weight and permit for extra pure flexion of the foot, which helps with operating. The soundness helps on the plate.
Now 31, Nimmo has a historical past of accidents, however has labored with the coaching workers and utilized their expertise to remain on the sector. He hopes the brand new kicks will preserve him there as effectively.
PARADA’S NEW LOOK
Mets catching prospect Kevin Parada dropped weight over the winter, hoping {that a} leaner, extra athletic construct will assist him on the plate and behind it. However it’s the signature specs he used to put on which have him wanting completely different in spring coaching this 12 months.
Parada has finished away with the glasses, choosing contacts after speaking to a physician. Glasses are really useful for hitting a goal that doesn’t transfer, however a baseball that strikes at about 90-100 MPH and might dart and dive in all places. Contacts make it simpler for the attention to trace a shifting goal.
Parada, 23, hasn’t developed as shortly as he or the Mets had hoped. Coming off a difficult season with Double-A Binghamton, he was each pissed off and inspired. He hit simply .214 with a .663 OPS in 115 video games final season, feeling humbled at instances, but in addition coming away pushed to repair the mechanical points he and the Mets recognized on the plate.
“I think there’s something to having some struggle throughout the minor leagues,” Parada mentioned. “In my case, last year was a very tough year, and I think I think it was good for me because I might not have looked at things the same had I been a little more successful in different areas. Or maybe I might not have been aware of like, ‘Hey, here’s a here’s a flaw that could really hurt me at an even higher level.’”
Parada has been utilizing the Mets’ new hitting lab since final fall. There, the workforce used biomechanical expertise to diagnose the mechanics of his swing. The leg kick remains to be there to get energy, however his hand path and hips have modified.
Very like Francisco Alvarez, Parada’s hips generally tend to “spin out.” The lab helps him eradicate it.
Final 12 months, he bulked up, considering extra power would assist him hit extra dwelling runs, however that wasn’t the case. He’s down about 15 kilos and feeling extra cellular. Defensively, it ought to assist with pop instances; offensively, it ought to assist along with his swing.
“The biggest thing that happened this offseason that I was really excited about is feeling a lot more comfortable in my body and how I’m moving,” he mentioned. “I feel like it’s going to translate.”
QUICK HITTERS
– It’s been one animal journey after one other for outfielder Tyrone Taylor this spring. He drove his two canine from his Phoenix-area dwelling to Port St. Lucie for the primary time. Lately, they got here throughout an surprising customer within the yard of the rental dwelling he and his household are staying in throughout camp: a snake. Fortunately, the snake was not of a venomous selection.
– The Mets traveled throughout the state for a two-game, Gulf coast swing Saturday, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 10-1 in Port Charlotte. Proper-hander Blade Tidwell threw two shutout innings, together with an immaculate second inning (9 pitches, 9 strikes and three strikeouts). The eighth-ranked prospect within the Mets’ system touched 99 in his second Grapefruit League begin.
– Infielder Luisangel Acuña was faraway from the sport after being hit by a pitch by Shane McClanahan. He left the sport, however supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned the trainers usually are not involved.
– Kodai Senga will make his first Grapefruit League begin of the season subsequent week. The proper-hander will throw one inning and simulate extra within the bullpen.
Initially Printed: March 1, 2025 at 4:26 PM EST
