Three reasons for Mets optimism, three reasons for concern as Opening Day approaches
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Wednesday provided a glimpse of what could be for the Mets early in the 2025 season.
For their matchup against the Astros at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, the full complement of position players were at manager Carlos Mendoza's disposal. The top found Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos stationed as the first threats.
Brandon Nimmo, who played his first game in the outfield on Monday, was in the No. 5 spot ahead of Starling Marte, one of the team's new designated hitters. Luis Torrens was behind the plate and Brett Baty at second base filling in for a pair of injuries, while Tyrone Taylor rounded out the unit.
With Opening Day in Houston now a week away, Mendoza is placing the final pieces in the Mets' 26-piece puzzle. Coming off a trip to the National League Championship Series in 2024, the bar has been risen heading into this season, but there are also some hurdles that need to be cleared early.
Here are three reasons for optimism and three for concern with the Mets at this point in spring:
THREE REASONS FOR OPTIMISM
Clay Holmes' transition has gone smoothly so far
It may have been one of the biggest question marks for the Mets entering the spring training after they invested $38 million over three years for Holmes to become a starter.
The 31-year-old right-hander entered camp as one of the Mets' most prepared arms. He was prepared to throw over three ups in a bullpen session on the first official day of spring training and his arsenal, which has grown to include a kick changeup and a cutter, has looked sharp.
Holmes' rise helped him earn the Mets' Opening Day start in Houston against the Astros. In four starts this spring, the former Yankees closer has gone 1-1 with two earned runs allowed in 14 innings (1.29 ERA) and 15 strikeouts.
Juan Soto has gotten comfortable quickly
The 26-year-old superstar is used to change. In the past four seasons, he's played with four different clubs. But now, after inking a record $765 million deal, a transitional period would be expected for Soto to get comfortable with his new Mets teammates and home.
Soto has appeared unphased over the first month of Grapefruit League play and he has continued to torment opposing pitching this spring.
He entered Wednesday's action slashing .357/.438/.857 with four home runs, eight RBI, seven runs. He's struck out four times in 12 games. Maybe no one should be surprised, after he had a near-MVP season in his first season in the Bronx. But it doesn't seem like Soto will be fazed by his new locale.
The future looks bright
There have been flurries of excitement surrounding the Mets' youth of the minor league ranks this spring.
Brandon Sproat, the club's top prospect, tossed two scoreless innings in his first outing against the Nationals on Feb. 28, before allowing two earned runs on four hits over two innings in his second outing. Mendoza said that Sproat's stuff was comparable to many big leaguers but still needs to learn how to work through a lineup.
Meanwhile, another prospect bringing excitement is Ryan Clifford, the 21-year-old No. 4 prospect, who blasted a 449-foot home run during the team's Spring Breakout game last Sunday. He also homered in a Grapefruit League game earlier in spring.
THREE CONCERNS
Can the lineup weather Francisco Alvarez, Jeff McNeil's absences?
When Alvarez was at his best during his rookie season, he poked 25 home runs and drove in 63 runs despite a low, .217 batting average. Now, Alvarez will be out until at least May with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand.
Jeff McNeil, a former batting champion who closed last season with a .289/.376/.547 slash line after the All-Star break, is dealing with an oblique strain.
The duo's potential replacements, Torrens and Baty, have not offered the same potential thus far in their careers. Torrens has 22 home runs across seven seasons, while Baty has a career .603 OPS at the major league level. The Mets are hoping both players can take positive steps forward offensively in the early going.
Does the rotation have enough firepower early?
The Mets can feel comfortable about the top of their rotation heading into the season, with Holmes, Kodai Senga and David Peterson combining to
But there are question marks beyond that trio as Sean Manaea continues to progress from his oblique strain and Frankie Montas still on the mend from his high-grade lat strain.
The trio that is competing to fill in those three spots has seen mixed results.
Griffin Canning has been strong, coming off a nine-strikeout game against the Rays across 4⅔ innings, but he has to prove it in the regular season. Tylor Megill allowed four earned runs on six hits in his last time out, while Paul Blackburn sports a 5.68 ERA this spring.
Some injuries still merit attention
The Mets are still being cautious with a few of their relief pitchers, particularly Dedniel Nuñez, who threw his first inning of the Grapefruit League season on Monday.
Nuñez dealt with a season-ending right flexor strain last season and with a history of arm injuries, the Mets are taking his first action slowly.
"This next week is going to be pretty important," Mendoza said. "Obviously we know we're running out of time here with him, but the thing with him is we need to take care of him, we need to protect. So, are we comfortable and is he able to go two out of three out of the gate, not so much back-to-back."
Nimmo's appearance in the outfield was encouraging on Wednesday as he continues to work through knee soreness. Meanwhile, Mendoza said that he does not need to see A.J. Minter in back-to-back games as he works back from hip surgery last August.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets: Reasons for optimism, concern before Opening Day 2025
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