PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Robinson Canó is able to take one other swing at first base.
A second baseman all through his profession, Canó is scheduled to play first in spring coaching Thursday because the New York Mets experiment with choices that might maintain his bat within the lineup from time to time.
The 39-year-old Canó has performed 2,158 video games at second base throughout his 16-year main league profession. His solely expertise at first was 14 video games with the Seattle Mariners in 2018.
“They’re going to do some things with him tomorrow morning so it’s not cold turkey,” Mets supervisor Buck Showalter mentioned Wednesday evening.
Jeff McNeil is penciled in as New York’s main second baseman this season. Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith high the depth chart at first, whereas Canó figures to suit usually because the designated hitter — which will get adopted within the Nationwide League this yr.
However the Mets are in search of defensive insurance coverage and different methods to get at-bats for Canó, a .303 profession hitter with 334 house runs and a couple of,624 hits.
He sat out your entire 2021 season whereas serving his second suspension for performance-enhancing medicine.
“He’s still going to play some second base, but he’s so excited to be back with the team and being in a position to contribute,” Showalter mentioned.
The brand new Mets supervisor mentioned placing guys in several positions is necessary this time of yr.
Utility infielder Luis Guillorme performed third base in Tuesday evening’s 10-0 win over the Miami Marlins. Eduardo Escobar, an All-Star third baseman with Arizona final yr, was at second base Wednesday evening towards Houston.
“Just because you’re an infielder doesn’t mean you’re going to be comfortable at any (position),” Showalter mentioned. “We’re trying to get them a different angle, a different look, before we get out of here.”
New York opens the season at Washington on April 7.
Again from a left indirect subject, newcomer Starling Marte is ticketed for proper area regardless that he is by no means performed there within the majors. The 33-year-old Marte received two Gold Gloves in left area with Pittsburgh (2015-16) and has spent loads of time in heart.
“It’s a good fit for us,” Showalter mentioned. “Our right field is hard to play. If Starling gets acclimated, I think he’ll figure it out.
“We’re already having to regulate along with his arm power. We’re beginning to discover that he can do (issues) that ordinary folks do not. … There are going to be some actually entertaining throws he makes this yr.”
Leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo will stay in heart area, with newcomer Mark Canha in left.
“(Nimmo’s) considered one of three guys able to taking part in there,” Showalter said. “We’ll in all probability begin that approach, with the opposite two guys the place they’re.”
Game notes
Alonso hit his first homer of the spring Wednesday night, a three-run shot in the 5-3 loss to the Astros. … Carlos Carrasco pitched four innings in his first Grapefruit League game. He allowed three runs and six hits, including homers by Michael Brantley and Yordan Alvarez. Carrasco is looking to lock up a spot at the back of the rotation. The 35-year-old right-hander had elbow surgery in October after going 1-5 with a 6.04 ERA over 12 starts last season during a disappointing debut with the Mets that was delayed by a hamstring injury. “I believed he was crisper this time,” Showalter said. “I do know he felt fairly good about it.”
