PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Baseball players are creatures of habit, often sticking to the same routines on and off the field for years.
For Brett Baty this spring, those habits and routines that have helped him reach the highest level of the game are being thrown out the window. Those basic tenets of the game that he worked so hard to perfect? They no longer apply on a daily basis.
So when James Wood hit a grounder to second base in the third inning of Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Nationals at Clover Park, Baty’s initial instinct was the same as it’s been throughout his entire professional career. The only problem? It was the wrong instinct.
“I felt like I wanted to go get the ball, because that's just how I've always been,” Baty said. “At third base, go get the ball, every ball you can go get; second base, same thing. … But I had to remember [second baseman] Marcus [Semien] is right behind me, so I need to get my butt to first base.”
After making a quick move toward the ball, Baty -- who was playing first base for the first time since high school -- remembered his job, quickly retreating to the bag to take the throw from Semien for the out.
“There are just some things you never see in practice until you get out there and do it in the game,” Baty said. “It's just learning stuff like that, which was really cool. It was a fun challenge out there; no mistakes, but didn't look pretty, either. We'll get better over there, for sure.”
“That’s the biggest thing with these guys learning that position, that there's going to be times when the ball is going to be hit to their right and they have to go to the left and get to the base,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I thought, overall, it was a good day. It was just good to see him out there in game action.”
With Bo Bichette taking over third-base duties, Baty is in line to become a super-utility player for the Mets, who hope the 26-year-old can provide help all over the field. In addition to his work at first base, he’s been taking reps in the outfield, and Mendoza said he plans to get Baty a start in right field next week.
“I feel like a football receiver out there,” Baty said. “I think it’s fun to run around out there, catch fly balls, show off the arm and stuff like that. I think you can showcase athleticism out there.”
Battery test
Francisco Alvarez made his spring catching debut Saturday, and while his starting pitcher is new to the Mets this season, the face staring back at him from the mound was familiar.
Tobias Myers -- who came to the Mets as part of the Freddy Peralta trade in January -- allowed one run over three innings, striking out four in his second outing of the spring. Myers had some experience with Alvarez, as the two worked out together shortly after the trade took place.
“He was down in South Florida living down there in the offseason, so me, him, Freddy and a couple guys met up and were able to get some work in before camp started,” Myers said. “This was my first time throwing to him since, so it was really cool, especially being able to communicate all morning on what we wanted to do. Alvy is full of energy; he’s fun back there.”