PORT STREET LUCIE, Fla. — Luisangel Acuña will likely need to find a new position at some point in his development with the Mets, and the organization plans to evaluate him for one this spring.
According to manager Carlos Mendoza, the 21-year-old Acuña will play second base during camp in addition to his natural position at shortstop.
Acuña appeared in four games in center field during his time in the Rangers’ farm system, but the Mets will use him as an infielder, at least through spring training.
Mendoza said another shortstop candidate, Jett Williams, is expected to start in center field this spring.
Given that Francisco Lindor will be the anchor at shortstop for the foreseeable future, evaluations at other positions are necessary for both players. Lindor still has eight years left on the $341 million contract he signed starting with the 2022 season.
Acuña, the younger brother of Ronald Acuña Jr., was acquired by the Mets in the Max Scherzer trade last summer and was traded to the Rangers.
Mendoza, who opted to work with the front office to bring in four new coaches, was asked why he kept pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
Hefner, 37, a former Mets pitcher, also worked as a pitching coach under managers Luis Rojas and Buck Showalter.
“[Hefner] He’s a really good pitching coach and a great communicator,” Mendoza said. “He has a really good feel for the information and baseball side of things and played at this level. And I think his relationships and his attention to detail are exceptional. The way they communicate with each other is impressive.”
Catcher instructor Glenn Sherlock and strategy coach Danny Burns also return at the same positions.
Hitting coach Jeremy Barnes remains, but shares the title with Eric Chavez, who was the Mets’ bench coach last season. Chavez will become the Mets’ hitting coach in 2022.
