Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader, Starling Marte play together for first time in Mets' 'special' new-look outfield
From left, Mets outfielders Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader and Starling Marte. Credit: AP; Newsday / Alejandra Villa Loarca
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets’ revamped outfield is exactly how David Stearns likes it: fast, athletic, versatile.
They got their first look at that dynamic — and their preferred 2024 alignment — Tuesday in a 5-4 exhibition win over the Yankees when Brandon Nimmo manned leftfield, Harrison Bader debuted in center and Starling Marte played right.
Put another way, that is one of the best defensive centerfielders in baseball, flanked by a pair of guys who recently handled that position and could again if or when the Mets need them to.
“You basically have three centerfielders playing in the outfield,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, “which is nice to see.”
Their introduction lasted only four innings, with Bader exiting early since this was his first Grapefruit League game. But Mendoza said he plans to put that trio together “as much as possible” over the next three weeks so they can learn each other and grow as a unit.
“The communication and how they’re moving and positioning and all that, it’s important for them to start playing together,” Mendoza said.
Bader said: “I’m familiar with their game and their speed and everything, so to see it up close will be fun. But don’t overthink it. Play my game and adjust accordingly."
Marte and Bader agreed: Learning how to play together will happen by playing together. They can talk shop all they want, but it will be in-game situations that teach them when Bader should take a more aggressive route, for example, or when they are positioned too close together.
As strong as they seem in theory, the chemistry will have to be organic.
“These are the days to get it all right for when it counts,” Bader said.
The biggest adjustment may well belong to Nimmo, the Mets’ centerfielder the past few seasons. He is switching to primarily left to make room for Bader.
As a veteran of the center-to-corner transition, Marte said the hardest part isn’t ego or pride, but rather the difficulty of bouncing between two spots. When he came to the Mets, he asked them to leave him in right so he could focus on learning the finer points of that position.
Nimmo probably won’t get that luxury. The Mets plan to put him in center when Bader doesn’t play, though backup Tyrone Taylor also is an option (at all three spots).
Marte conceded to missing centerfield — “the best position,” he called it — but still wants to stay away for the sake of not having to think too much or dealing with a continual readjustment.
“Leave me there and everything is going to be fine,” Marte said.
Bader’s appearance was satisfying for him personally because it was his first since surgery last fall to repair a bad groin injury: his adductor muscle torn off his pelvic floor.
“Being out there with really no discomfort whatsoever makes me feel really good about myself,” he said. “To be relieved of that is awesome. Go out there with no restraints whatsoever mentally, physically . . . [just] play my game.”
The starting outfield highlighted a position-player group that looked awfully Opening Day-esque for the first time in camp. All of the expected first-string hitters played except Jeff McNeil, who is recovering from soreness in his left biceps. Zack Short was at second in his stead.
As a result, the batting order looked like it was, well, in order.
Nimmo, Marte, Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Francisco Alvarez were the first five. Then came Brett Baty, Bader and Mark Vientos (followed by Short).
Mendoza warned not to read too much into the lineup at such an early date, which makes sense because McNeil is the wild card. He could reasonably slot in second, fifth or sixth when everybody is available.
For now, Mendoza was just happy to see that outfield together.
“It can be special,” he said. “The way they can go get baseballs and the way they can shut down the running game of other teams because of their arms, it could be a special group.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
