After four long months of hibernation, the Mets are back in Port St. Lucie for the start of Spring Training. The Amazin’s were 20 games over .500 in the second half of 2019, and they’ll look to continue that success under new manager Luis Rojas.
Rojas is considered one of the game’s top managerial prospects, and his arrival is just one of the storylines that fans should keep an eye out for this spring.
Rojas Takes the Reins
After managing more than a thousand games in the minors, Luis Rojas gets his first shot at leading a big league club. Rojas spent the 2019 season as the Mets quality control coach, a position which required him to be well-versed in analytics and skilled at communicating with players.
Rojas is a member of the Alou baseball family, and his father Felipe was a major league manager for fourteen seasons. While he boasts an impressive pedigree, Rojas did not rely on his family name to reach his current position. He worked his way up from the bottom, and at the start of his coaching career would drive minor league players from their hotel to the Mets Spring Training facilities in Port St. Lucie.
Perhaps the greatest asset Rojas brings to the table is his familiarity with the club’s young core. When news broke that Rojas had been named the newest Mets skipper, Pete Alonso tweeted that he was “super pumped” to have him on board.
Other players like Jeff McNeil and Marcus Stroman expressed their support for Rojas, with McNeil calling him “one of the best managers I’ve ever played for.” This may be Rojas’s first go-round as a big league manager, but he already has the respect of his roster.
Bullpen Bouncebacks
It’s no secret that Edwin Diaz failed to live up to expectations in his first year in New York. Still, there is reason to believe he could regain the form that made him baseball’s best reliever in 2018. Despite his overall struggles, Diaz still managed to post the third-highest K/9 rate of any pitcher in the majors last season.
The Mets closer has been taking suggestions from Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez this winter in hopes he can rebound from his tough campaign. Martinez has offered Diaz advice on his mechanics and has also encouraged him to adopt a more assertive mentality on the mound.
Another Mets bullpen arm looking to bounce back is Jeurys Familia. Familia has lost thirty pounds this offseason, which he hopes will increase his overall stamina.
The Return of Cespedes
Injuries have limited Yoenis Cespedes to just 119 games since he signed a four-year, $110 million deal with the Mets in the winter of 2016. The outfielder may have been absent all of last season, but the revised terms of his contract give him a financial incentive to make the Opening Day roster.
Cespedes is guaranteed to make $6 million this year, a figure that will reach $11 million if he doesn’t start the season on the Injured List with ailments related to his recent encounter with a wild boar.
No one quite knows what to expect from Cespedes, but with just one year remaining on his current deal, he should be motivated to prove his doubters wrong.
Re-Pete Performance?
Last spring, Pete Alonso was a minor leaguer just looking to make the big club. He posted a .352 average and an 1.006 OPS over 22 spring games, a performance which earned him a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Fast forward to 2020 and the Polar Bear is coming off a historic 53-homer season and the National League Rookie of the Year award. He’s gone from fresh-faced novice to team leader, a role he has wholeheartedly embraced. With a full season of major league experience under his belt, look for Alonso to continue setting a positive example for his teammates.
New Kids in Camp
Among the players making their first appearance at Mets camp are Dellin Betances, Rick Porcello, Michael Wacha, and Jake Marisnick. Betances is the most intriguing name of the bunch and his health will be critical to the success of the Mets relief corps. The towering righty faced just two batters last season before suffering a torn ACL, though in typical Betances fashion he struck both those batters out.
Wacha was signed to a one-year, $3 million deal with incentives based on how many appearances he makes. He views himself as a starter, and will battle Rick Porcello and Steven Matz for a rotation spot. The final composition of the rotation may ultimately be one of the most compelling storylines for the Mets this spring.
Searle’s Final Say
The Mets enter this spring as one of the most talented teams in the National League. Expectations are sky high, and the pressure is on new manager Luis Rojas to lead the club to the postseason. While the club has a few question marks to sort out, this is the best roster the Amazin’s have had in years. The Mets boast a two-time Cy Young winner, a potential batting champion, and the reigning home run king, and seeing these players back in action should inspire optimism among fans.
