WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The cameo L'Sangelacna, made with the Mets last September, did not affect the views of the team's infielders.
It also made a difference to Acuña.
As he fought to win one of the final spots on the roster of the year's first day, Acuña said he's seen himself in a new light compared to when he first approached the majors.
“The biggest difference for me is my confidence,” Accuna said through an interpreter at Clover Park. “Last year, I didn't arrive with the same level of confidence. But after learning some of them since last year and becoming more familiar with them, I have a different belief in myself.
More than that, the 23-year-old made an impression on the organization while his dozens of games were filled for Francisco Lindor.
Despite struggling with Triple A Syracuse for much of the regular season, Accña began 10 games for short, and the Mets delivered as they needed a victory.
Now he has another opportunity to make an impact this time due to Jeff McNeill's oblique damage.
Instead of competing for one backup role with Brett Baty, Donovan Walton and Luis de Los Santos, it is likely that two spots are open at this point, including the usual playing time before McNeil gets healthy.
Acnya made a nice dive play to his left on a sharp grounder as Washington's Nathaniel Lowe lost 4-1 on Saturday.
If the Mets decide, the question the Mets face is whether Batty wins a 2 base job, is he suited to play second in the majors every day, or is he suited to play the role of a utility?
The third possibility is that Acuña starts the year by playing every day with a minor.
“I'm just playing hard,” Ackna said. “If I do that, I know I have control over what I have control. They make decisions. I'm fine with what they make.”
Scouts continue to like the benefits of Acuña, and he has more experience in 2 base than Baty, who began playing positions in Syracuse a year ago.
The natural third baseman who was converted into a utility type player after losing his job in third place at Mark Bientos last season, Batty scored a solid spring and showed good gloves as well as range in the second, but his throws were sometimes out of target.
Carlos Mendoza also pointed out that he has more responsibility than a third baseman in terms of making decisions on the field of each pitch than a third baseman.
Acuña got off to a rough start off offensively and started the Grapefruitreug action 16-2 without extra-base hits in the first seven games, but he entered Saturday with four hits in his previous 11 at-bats, including a first base hit in the spring.
But he hadn't gone for a walk yet.
Mendoza said he liked what he saw from Acuña recently, and although he only has 14 major league experience, he is tested more than most young players with that small amount of play time.
“I think what we loved about him was his ability to protect the middle of the field incredibly well. This is something you desperately need when you're in the Pennant Chase.” “And what he did with the bat was an extreme bonus.”
And Acuña is looking forward to paying dividends this season.
“It gives me a lot of experience and I play these types of games,” Acuña said. “If you start playing here again, you don't have the same kind of nerve.”
