WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Hayden Senger has spent seven years within the Mets group to achieve this level of consideration for the most important leagues, so he doesn’t take into account ready just a few extra days to be taught his destiny an enormous deal.
The 27-year-old stays within the combine for the staff’s backup catcher job, after Francisco Alvarez underwent surgical procedure earlier this month for a damaged hamate bone in his left hand. Senger and Jakson Reetz are the remaining candidates in camp for the job.
“I have been with this organization for a while and I think they know I am a good catcher,” Senger stated Wednesday. “I think they know I work on my hitting a lot and that has improved over the years.”
Senger confirmed his sturdy arm on Monday with a pickoff play at first base.
He owns a profession .685 OPS within the minor leagues as a hitter, however supervisor Carlos Mendoza isn’t searching for offense from his backup catcher. Luis Torrens would be the starter till Alvarez returns — he’s on an early-Could schedule.
“The feedback I am getting from not only from the pitching coaches, but the pitching staff [on Senger] is pretty encouraging,” Mendoza stated. “This is a guy who has been in the organization for a long time and putting himself in a pretty good position.”
Mendoza introduced the whole “A” staff on the street to face the Astros at Cacti Park of the Palm Seashores.
It was a lineup that included Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos, Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte, Torrens, Brett Baty and Tyrone Taylor.
Was it a prelude to the Opening Day lineup subsequent Thursday towards the Astros, who’re scheduled to start out left-hander Framber Valdez?
“We have still got to get through the next six games,” Mendoza stated. “But hopefully a lot of these faces are the ones that are playing the first game in Houston.”
Dedniel Núñez reported to the Mets employees that he felt good on Tuesday, a day after he appeared within the Grapefruit League for the primary time this spring. José Butto additionally reported he was nice after pitching for the primary time since he incurred groin discomfort.
Mendoza indicated it’s doable Núñez may nonetheless be prepared for Opening Day regardless of the restricted motion this spring.
The Mets have taken it slowly with Núñez, who was shut down in August final season with forearm tightness.
“We need to protect him, right?” Mendoza stated. “Is he able to go, say, two out of three [days] out of the gate … and then see where we are with some of the other guys that are going to be part of that bullpen? Because it’s hard to carry so many guys that you have to take care of.”
Most notably, staff officers are monitoring A.J. Minter, who’s coming back from hip surgical procedure.
