JUPITER, Fla. — Brett Baty appreciated playing in the late innings of the New York Mets’ spring training game Tuesday, beyond when starters usually stay on the field this time of year.
“(The St. Louis Cardinals) hit some balls in the gaps,” Baty said, “and I got to work on cuts and relays.”
Hoping to grab a final spot on the Mets’ roster as a utility infielder, Baty wants all the practice he can get at second base, which remains a relatively new position for him. He played there for the first time in Triple A last year, when, following a demotion, the Mets looked to increase his versatility.
For the first time this spring, Baty, naturally a third baseman, started Tuesday at second base. He took groundballs at shortstop once and sometimes gets live reads at the position during batting practice, but is expected to see most of his time at second and third base.
With Nick Madrigal (shoulder) likely to miss the season, there’s a clear opening at backup infielder.
“If I’m the utility man, that’d be awesome,” Baty said. “Any spot on this team to help the team win, I’m for.”
But Baty faces competition for the spot.
Luisangel Acuña, who typically plays up the middle, started at third base Tuesday for the first time this spring. He made a nice catch on a soft popup while going back on the ball, then he made another good play on a hard grounder hit toward his left.
“I’m trying to prepare myself for what’s to come,” Acuña said about his chances of making the roster. “These are things I don’t control, but I am preparing every single day for that.”
Club officials say Acuña looks comfortable at third base. They believe his athleticism gives him the skills necessary to perform well at the position if needed.
Baty is still more of a work in progress at second base. That’s why something that sounds simple, like working on cuts and relays, stands out as important. He can’t easily replicate reading balls in the gaps and determine whether they’ll be doubles or triples (and then how far into the outfield he may have to go for a relay).
The Mets waited until after Baty got off to a good start offensively before giving him a start at second base. They want him to be comfortable and confident.
Others firmly in the mix for the utility spot include Donovan Walton and Luis De Los Santos. There’s still plenty of time for the situation to clear up.
First spring roster cuts
The Mets made their first roster cuts of the spring on Tuesday, sending 13 players to minor-league camp: Ty Adcock, Adbert Alzolay, Dom Hamel, Oliver Ortega, Brandon Sproat, Blade Tidwell, Ryan Clifford, Drew Gilbert, Rafael Ortega, Kevin Parada, Alex Ramirez, Luke Ritter and Jett Williams. They have 57 players still in big-league camp.
Kodai Senga pitches against the Miami Marlins on Monday. (Jim Rassol / Imagn Images)
Senga’s new pitch
In his first spring training start on Monday night, Kodai Senga unveiled a new pitch: a sinker.
“It’s a dangerous pitch,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It’s another weapon for him.”
In Senga’s two-inning outing (he tossed more in a bullpen session afterward), he threw just a few sinkers. The pitch is important for Senga to harness because it could offer another look to right-handed batters. Senga’s other pitches move away from right-handed batters, but the sinker would come inside, potentially leading to more groundballs, too.
Senga’s sinker looks like it’s ready for more usage, as long as he’s comfortable deploying it.
“It’s definitely enough to show the hitter that we have something to come in, and that helps his other pitches,” catcher Luis Torrens said. “They have to be aware of it.”
Kranick shines
To some rival scouts and Mets staffers, right-hander Max Kranick stands out through the first week and a half of games as an under-the-radar bright spot.
Over three outings, Kranick has thrown 5 1/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts (no walks). He has allowed three hits.
“The way Kranick is throwing the baseball, man, he is putting himself in a really good position,” Mendoza said. “We know he is going to help us.”
When?
The Mets’ bullpen may feature some openings. By design, the Mets are taking things slow with A.J. Minter and Dedniel Núñez. On the surface, Kranick’s minor-league option may hurt his chances of cracking the Opening Day roster because other potential candidates, such as right-hander Sean Reid-Foley and lefty Danny Young, do not have one. But on Tuesday, MLB.com reported the Mets placed Reid-Foley, who experienced shoulder issues last season, on outright waivers, starting a path toward taking him off the 40-man roster (though another team can now claim him).
Kranick, formerly a starter, offers a bit of length from the bullpen. The Mets entered spring training wanting him to focus on being a multi-inning reliever (someone who can give approximately two innings, about 45 pitches).
Kranick averaged 96 mph with his four-seam fastball on Monday. That’s where he wants to be at this point in the year. But he hit 98 mph last year once the Mets moved him to the bullpen in Triple A. Scouts view Kranick’s sweeper, a pitch he worked on late last year with Mets assistant pitching coordinator Grayson Crawford, as a plus-pitch.
Scott’s milestone
For the first time since his hybrid elbow surgery last year, Christian Scott will throw on Monday.
“Counting down the hours,” Scott said with a laugh.
Scott won’t pitch in 2025. But he has impressed some club officials with the way he has handled his rehab process. Scott added lean muscle after spending additional time in Port St. Lucie ahead of spring training and focusing more on nutrition. He will throw on Monday from 45 feet.
Ureña’s minor-league deal
Right-hander Jose Ureña’s minor-league deal with the Mets contains opt-outs for March 23, May 1 and June 1, a league source said.
(Top photo of Brett Baty: Sam Navarro / Imagn Images)
