TAMPA — Mark Vientos’ Infield Journey
Mark Vientos has played just 12 games at first base in the majors compared to 66 in the minors. This season, though, he could see more action at first. Jorge Polanco is expected to spend a lot of time as the designated hitter.
Manager Mendoza has pointed out that Vientos, a right-handed hitter, and left-handed Brett Batty could form a sort of backup platoon, with Vientos making his debut on Sunday.
“It’s nice to get started in that first game,” Vientos said, noting his work with infield coach Tim Leiper and bench coach Kai Correa. “We’ll figure out our daily lineup—it’ll get easier with time.”
Some scouts think Vientos may actually be better suited for first base than third, where he’s faced defensive challenges in the past. One National League scout mentioned, “He might press a bit too much at third. That might not be an issue at first.”
Mendoza expressed confidence in Vientos’ ability to handle balls at first base and is placing emphasis on his movements around the bag.
“We know he has a strong arm, and he can effectively utilize the entire bag when he stretches to throw,” Mendoza remarked.
If Ryan Clifford makes it to the majors, it will likely be due to his hitting prowess. Last season, he split time between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse, recording 29 home runs over 579 at-bats. He’s also refining his defensive versatility, having played 66 games at first, 27 in left field, and 24 in right last season.
On Sunday, he focused on his outfield skills during his Grapefruit League debut as a left fielder. Clifford mentioned, “I work on moving quickly sideways, getting my legs into it, and positioning myself for speed.” He’s also aiming to be more assertive at the plate to capitalize on good pitch opportunities.
Mendoza sees Clifford as a viable outfield option in the future and stresses the need for consistent contact. The 22-year-old’s strikeout rate dropped in Double-A from 2024 to 2025 and barely fell again after his promotion to Syracuse.
“We recognize his power and his ability to manage the strike zone,” Mendoza said. “He consistently makes contact, and he showed that in Triple-A.”
Cristian Pache hasn’t played in the majors since 2024 and spent last season in Arizona’s Triple-A Reno. The 27-year-old signed a minor league deal with the Mets this offseason in hopes of securing an outfield position. He played center field on Sunday and managed two hits.
Justin Hagenmann, a 29-year-old righty who appeared in nine games for the Mets last season, started against the Yankees. He allowed one run and two hits over 2 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out three as well.
