Mets camp is starting to get a bit lighter, but not because of cuts!
The World Baseball Classic starts this week and participating teams are starting their workouts with exhibition games happening Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The Mets have about 16 players departing camp including today’s starter, Clay Holmes.
With that many players departing the team for at least the next week or so, the Mets will have a lot more spots for players fighting for roster spots to get more significant playing time. We see it a bit today with almost every player* fighting for the right field spot, except for Brett Baty, getting a start.
*MJ Melendez is playing for Puerto Rico starting this week, and won’t be in Mets camp.
Three Things To Watch For:
- Clay Holmes. After today Holmes will head off to join Team USA with Nolan McLean. Ace pitchers Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal have made public commitments about limiting the amount they are willing to pitch in the WBC. If team USA goes far, this increases the chances for Holmes to get more reps. Potentially this is a good thing for Holmes. The Mets have to face the Nationals and Marlins a lot in spring training. It’s not a bad thing to get Holmes more reps against major league quality hitting that are on different teams. Holmes went deep in his first start of spring, pitching 3 2/3 innings allowing two runs off of one hit and two walks while striking out three.
- Right Field Competition Check In. Carson Benge, Mike Tauchman, Cristian Pache and Tyrone Taylor are all getting the start today. Benge has gotten off to a very hot start this spring going 4-for-10 with a stolen base and two runs scored. He has only struck out twice. Cristian Pache has been major surprise going 7-for-10 with a double and a home run (.700/.700/1.100). Everyone involved is doing everything they have to do to prove they should be starting right fielder.
- Jack Wenninger. Wenninger is scheduled to get his second spring training outing this afternoon. He did well in his first game, scattering two hits and two walks over two innings while striking out three. Wenninger is part of the next group of Mets starting pitching prospects behind Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong.
Let’s Go Mets!
