Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke ahead of Friday’s spring training game.
Here are the most important notes…
Jeff McNeil not close to returning
McNeil, who has been out a little over a week due to a mild oblique injury, is still having symptoms.
“Until he’s symptom-free, that’s when we’ll re-image it,” Mendoza said about a follow-up MRI for McNeil, who has not yet been cleared for baseball activity.
The expectation when the injury was diagnosed was that McNeil would need three-to-four weeks before returning to big league game action.
With McNeil out, Brett Baty seems to be on track to not only make the team out of camp, but perhaps be the regular second baseman in McNeil’s absence.
If Luisangel Acuña is on the Opening Day roster, he would be a logical option to start at second base against left-handers.
Brett Baty the second baseman
Since McNeil’s injury, Baty has gotten most of his starts at second base. And he has excelled, including making all but one routine play that has come his way in addition to a handful of sparkling plays.
On Thursday night against the Nationals, Baty was on the tail end of a tough double play that was executed with Francisco Lindor.
“That turn was pretty athletic,” Mendoza said. “That’s not an easy thing to do, especially when you’re learning that position.
“Then there’s the range that he’s shown. Ideally, it was in there, but to show it at second base, up the middle, going to his right, the way he’s going to his left. Just having the awareness of where to go on cuts and relays. The communication in-between pitches with not only Lindor but the other infielders. He’s been really, really good.”
What’s the plan for Luisangel Acuña?
David Stearns made it clear earlier this spring that the Mets are more than comfortable with what Acuña can offer defensively, but noted that the infielder is an unfinished product offensively.
Speaking on Friday, Mendoza echoed similar sentiments.
“When he controls the strike zone, we know he can do some damage,” Mendoza explained. “That’s what it comes down to. He can do a lot of different things — defensively, offensively, baserunning-wise. He’s having a good camp.
“I feel comfortable with him anywhere in the infield — even if we put him in the outfield. Even though he hasn’t played outfield this camp, he got a few reps in center field last year in the minor leagues.”
The final spot on the roster could come down to Acuña or Donovan Walton.
If the Mets opt for upside, Acuña will be the pick. If they would rather Acuña continue to hone his offensive skills in the minors, it’s fair to believe Walton will be the choice.
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