PORT ST. LUCIE — Mets Grapefruit League Opener
AJ Ewing might not see major league action this season, but he certainly left a mark during the Mets’ first Grapefruit League game on Saturday. Ewing showcased his remarkable speed and baseball instincts, contributing a sacrifice fly to center field, though the Mets ultimately lost 2-1 to Miami at Clover Park.
Widely recognized as one of the fastest players in the organization, Ewing was positioned in center field when Miami’s Colby Shade took advantage of a missed throw from Kevin Parada during a steal attempt. Ewing swiftly moved toward the ball and delivered an impressive throw to third base, securing an out.
At just 21 years old, Ewing concluded last season playing for Double-A Binghamton, where he garnered positive attention from manager Carlos Mendoza.
“There’s a lot to like about him. I think he has potential as a hitter,” Mendoza remarked. “On the defensive side, he made great reads and had a fantastic jump off the bat.”
Ewing came into the spring as one of the organization’s top three position players, following his impressive performance of 70 stolen bases last season. If he can maintain his batting performance, there’s a chance he could make an impact in the future.
Mendoza noted, “His ability to bring great speed and left-handed batting is quite encouraging.”
Meanwhile, two less-experienced infielders are set to step up as primary backups while Jorge Polanco gets accustomed to the first base position. Mendoza mentioned that Brett Batty and Mark Vientos are likely to get the most playtime, especially considering that Polanco is expected to see significant action at designated hitter.
Speaking of Batty, he has been recovering from some right hamstring discomfort encountered earlier this spring. Mendoza acknowledged that while Batty is progressing, it’s uncertain when he’ll transition back to the outfield.
“I have options based on the matchups and schedule,” Mendoza said regarding first base. “Aside from Polanco, I’m confident in our other players.” The combination of right-handed Vientos and left-handed Batty appears to be a strategic move, although there’s still a way to go for Batty to regain full strength.
Marcus Semien shone as the lead second baseman during Saturday’s game, although Mendoza mentioned he’ll keep an eye on Semien’s workload this spring. Despite having played over 155 games for much of his career, Semien was limited to 127 games last season due to injury.
Mendoza expressed, “He wants to play. He’s in the lineup, but we have to monitor his condition.”
As the Mets prepare for future games, veterans Mark Vientos and Luis Torrence are scheduled to travel to Tampa on Sunday, while Clay Holmes is set to make his Grapefruit League debut in Monday’s matchup against Toronto in Dunedin, Florida.
