HARBOR ST. LUCIE – Even as a non-rostered invitee to camp, Craig Kimbrel turns heads every time he steps on a mound. Kimbrel, a possible future Hall of Fame closer, threw an inning of live batting practice for the Mets at Clover Park on Wednesday.
The highlight was two at-bats against Juan Soto, another possible future Hall of Famer. Soto hit an infield grounder and walked.
“[Kimbrel’s] presence, it’s unreal,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We know the sweeper is good, the curveball and he also has the cutter he’s playing with now. He gets a chance here.”
Kimbrel, 37, pitched a 2.25 ERA in 14 games for the Braves and Astros last season.
The right-hander has amassed 440 saves during his 16-year Major League career.
Mendoza was asked early in camp what stood out about Kimbrel.
“Just the way he carries himself, a humble guy,” Mendoza said. “We’re talking about a guy who’s pretty close to a Hall of Fame career.
“He’s there like he’s a newcomer, how respectful he is, how open he is to share experiences. It was great to have him here.”
The Mets broke ground on a 50,000-square-foot player development complex adjacent to Clover Park, expected to be completed by 2027 spring training.
The team’s president of baseball operations, David Stearns, participated in the ceremony.
“The state-of-the-art facility we will build here will provide our athletes and coaches with everything they could need,” Stearns said.
“It will solidify us as the preeminent development organization in baseball, starting with our brand new complex in the Dominican Republic, extending here to our home in Florida and extending to every branch we have across the country.”
The $60 million project is fully funded by the Mets and coincides with a lease extension that includes options that would keep the team in Port St. Lucie through 2052.
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