PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Martin Prado's strained right hamstring does more than create just an opening at third base for the Marlins. It also vacates the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
While Derek Dietrich is expected to get most of the repetitions at third base, catcher J.T. Realmuto is an option to bat second. From that placement in the order on Wednesday, Realmuto went 3-for-4 with an RBI double in the Marlins' 15-9 win over the Mets at First Data Field.
"J.T. is one of the guys I like up there because he can hit the ball the other way," manager Don Mattingly said. "He can run a little bit. I've kind of been able to hit him anywhere. I've hit him first. I've hit him second. I've hit him third. I can hit him fifth. I can do anything with him, and he's the guy who kind of leaves everybody else in their slots and gets him in the mix. He's swinging the bat good."
Prior to Prado's injury, Realmuto projected to bat seventh in the lineup.
Adeiny Hechavarria is another right-handed-hitting option, but most of the time, the slick-fielding shortstop will be batting eighth. Dietrich could also bat second, but that would mean Miami would have three straight left-handed batters because Dee Gordon leads off and Christian Yelich hits third.
No matter where he hits, Realmuto doesn't expect to change his approach much.
"Wherever I'm in the lineup, the situation is going to dictate how I take my approach," Realmuto said. "If I hit with a runner on second and nobody out in the two or in the seventh holes, I'm going to have the same approach. I think it's more the game situation that is going to dictate my approach."
In 2016, Realmuto had a breakout season, boasting a slash line of .303/.343/.428 with 11 home runs and 48 RBIs. But most of his at-bats came from the seventh spot, where he hit .300 in 57 games and 207 at-bats. Realmuto batted second 20 times over five games a year ago, hitting .211 in the small sample size.
One of Realmuto's priorities this spring is to use the entire field. It's something that is being stressed by hitting coach Mike Pagliarulo and assistant hitting coach Frank Menechino.
In Wednesday's win, Realmuto singled to right in the first inning and doubled in a run to the opposite field in the second.
"That is something Frank and Pags have been working on with me, trying to use the whole field and letting the ball travel a little bit," Realmuto said. "So far, it's been working. I hope I can continue to get better at that aspect of the game."