The accidents proceed to pile up in Port St. Lucie, however the Mets are nonetheless content material with their depth.
Jeff McNeil will miss Opening Day with a proper indirect pressure, supervisor Carlos Mendoza instructed reporters Thursday at Clover Park. The second baseman/outfielder shall be shut down for the subsequent 7-10 days and can then must proceed his spring development, which units a timeline for a return at 3-4 weeks.
After enjoying in Monday’s Grapefruit League recreation towards the St. Louis Cardinals, McNeil complained of soreness. The Mets had him relaxation for a day, however the soreness remained and he underwent imaging.
McNeil is the fourth participant on the Main League roster to undergo an damage this spring, and the fifth total with utility infielder Nick Madrigal out for the season. The Mets have additionally misplaced beginning pitchers Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea, and catcher Francisco Alvarez.
“You hate to see it, but nobody is going to feel sorry for us,” Mendoza mentioned. “We’ve got to keep going.”
McNeil was set to be the membership’s beginning second baseman. At the beginning of camp, the Mets have been planning on utilizing Madrigal as a utility infielder, however acknowledged that the competitors for the function was considerably open. Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña, Donnie Walton and Luis De Los Santos have been competing for one spot, however now there’s one other open.
“At the beginning of camp, we kept talking about our depth. Now, we are being tested way before we get to Opening Day,” Mendoza mentioned. “That’s part of it. We know we have a good team, not only because of the regulars but just the depth.”
McNeil, 32, was within the midst of a powerful month on the plate, hitting .316 with three doubles, two walks and an .855 OPS in seven Grapefruit League video games. The 2022 NL batting champ missed the tip of final season with a fractured wrist and the tip of the 2023 season with an elbow damage.
Baty will get extra video games at second base over the remaining days of camp. The third baseman was despatched to the minor leagues to be taught the place final 12 months and spent the offseason engaged on center infield fundamentals. Walton, De Los Santos and Acuña have all performed shortstop, whereas Baty has not.
The Mets might determine to hold Baty as their second baseman, and take both Walton, De Los Santos or Acuña as a late-game infield alternative.
Baty reached base twice within the Mets’ 3-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Boston Pink Sox on Thursday, going 1-for-2 with a stroll. His spring OPS is as much as 1.110, and an improved bat ought to assist bolster his trigger. The 25-year-old made an error at third on a hard-hit ball, but in addition made a number of good defensive performs.
Baty shall be again within the lineup Friday at second base.
The Mets have gauged the commerce marketplace for each Baty and McNeil, the latter of whom has two years left on his contract with a membership possibility for 2027. Nevertheless, there’s a perception that Baty can nonetheless be productive if he finds a spot to play. A primary-round draft choose in 2019, Baty got here up as a 3rd baseman and has been specializing in third this spring, but in addition stepping into a number of video games at second base and taking center infield drills throughout exercises.
GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE RESULTS
Left-hander David Peterson allowed two runs (one earned) over 3 2/3 innings of labor, strolling two and hanging out one. David Hamilton homered on the primary pitch of the sport, which didn’t appear to rattle Peterson.
“He can have it,” Peterson mentioned after his outing. “If they want to ambush, they can ambush.”
Hamilton later doubled off nearer Edwin Diaz to steer off the fifth, however the right-hander retired the subsequent three so as, utilizing his fastball for the primary out, and his slider for the subsequent two. He threw Triston Casas 5 straight sliders, with the primary baseman swinging and lacking on the final three.
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo returned to motion after taking day without work for a sore knee. Nimmo obtained an injection for his knee, forcing him to overlook per week of Grapefruit League video games. He went 1-for-3 with a stroll.
IN DEMAND
In keeping with StubHub, demand for tickets throughout baseball has elevated, with ticket gross sales up 20% in comparison with this time final 12 months. The ticket resale web site ranked the Mets because the sixth-most in-demand crew for ticket gross sales, behind the Dodgers, Pink Sox, Yankees, Braves and Phillies.
Gross sales have tripled this spring, with the Mets coming at No. 2 behind the A’s for year-over-year improve. The A’s, who will play briefly in Sacramento, have seen a 12x improve in ticket gross sales.
The Mets will go to the A’s at Sutter Well being Park from April 11-13.
