Baty adds outfield glove to collection as he continues to prove versatility

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – In years past, Brett Baty was considered the Mets' third baseman of the future. But this year is a different story.

After playing third and second base last season, Baty is considered the team’s all-purpose player. Not only will he see time at those two spots, he will also see action in the outfield and at first base.

Baty was able to get his feet wet at first base against Team Nicaragua in Tuesday’s 6-3 victory at Clover Park, and he started in right field during Thursday’s 7-4 loss to the Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. It was the first Major League game he has started in the outfield.

Baty didn’t see much action with the glove, only fielding a single off the bat of Nationals outfielder Robert Hassell III in the fourth inning.

Not a big deal. Baty sharpens his tools in the outfield while the team takes batting practice.

“[Playing the outfield] is feeling more normal,” said Baty, who also hit a two-run homer in his first at-bat Thursday. “It’s like when I played in Double-A. I’m having a lot of fun out there.”

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called Baty an athlete because he easily made the transition to second base. In 57 games there last year, Baty had 181 chances and made only two errors.

“It is good to see him in action here. He is feeling comfortable [in right field],” Mendoza said.

“… [Being an all-purpose player] is going to be his role. It’s a valuable role. We’ve been pretty honest with him. He is on board. There are going to be at-bats for him in a lot of different positions. He could play third, second and first, and now the outfield is in play.”

Manaea and Senga to see action
Left-hander Sean Manaea and right-hander Kodai Senga are set for their first Spring Training outings of the season. Manaea will take his turn on the mound Friday night against the Marlins, while Senga will throw the next day against the Cardinals. Both games are in Jupiter, Fla.

Both pitchers have been healthy all spring. In fact, Mendoza went so far as to say that Senga is in the best shape since the skipper took over the team before the 2024 season. Senga’s velocity has been in the mid-90s, according to Mendoza.

Senga and Manaea have spent most of the spring on the backfields, building up for their spring debuts. Don’t expect them to pitch just one inning.

“They are jumping [into action]. It’s not like it’s their first outing of Spring Training when it’s one inning, 20 pitches. They are more like three innings, 45 pitches,” Mendoza said.