PORT ST. LUCIE — After not taking part in in a recreation since final October, making ready for Monday night time felt considerably “weird” to Starling Marte.
“But once you go out there, once you feel the dirt, once you see the field, it feels good,” Marte mentioned by an interpreter after beginning because the DH within the Mets’ 8-0 exhibition victory over the Cardinals at Clover Park.
Marte, who’s coping with a right-knee bone bruise that restricted him earlier in camp, doubled in his first plate look of the spring and completed 1-for-2.
Marte mentioned he thought-about breaking for third on the throw house that nailed Jesse Winker however thought higher of it.
The Mets tried to commerce Marte following Juan Soto’s arrival over the winter, however a deal by no means materialized.
Marte now figures right into a DH platoon with Winker.
The aim is to get Marte into the outfield for motion close to the tip of camp, in line with supervisor Carlos Mendoza, but it surely’s not thought-about crucial.
However Marte considers it vital.
“It’s important to have a player like myself be 100 percent in the outfield, to have a player who is capable of doing the things I do, where I can run at full capacity, where I can throw at a high level,” Marte mentioned.
Griffin Canning, in his second look of the exhibition season, threw 55 pitches over 3 ²/₃ scoreless innings.
He allowed one hit and struck out 5.
The best-hander is competing for a spot on the again finish of the rotation.
Paul Blackburn and Tylor Megill are additionally within the combine.
Officers from the MLB Gamers’ Affiliation, together with union head Tony Clark, convened with Mets gamers as a part of their annual spring-training tour.
Clark lauded the Mets, with a payroll that may exceed $300 million for a 3rd straight season, for the route the franchise has taken below proprietor Steve Cohen.
“We appreciate any time a team is committed to putting the best team on the field that they possibly can, all with an eye on trying to be the last team standing,” Clark mentioned. “That is what this organization has been committed to since Steve has taken over and so we’re hopeful, we wish that we were in a conversation with all 30 teams. We wish that there was more of a commitment to that across the board.”
Brandon Nimmo returned to pregame baseball exercise after resting his proper knee following a gel injection.
The Mets want to get Nimmo again into the lineup this week.
He’s acquired solely two plate appearances within the Grapefruit League.
