HARBOR ST. LUCIE – AJ Ewing may not make an impact in the Majors this season, but he took advantage of his presence in the Mets’ Grapefruit League opener on Saturday, hitting a sacrifice fly and showing off his speed and baseball IQ in center field in a 2-1 loss to Miami at Clover Park.
Known as one of the organization’s fastest players, Ewing was in center field when he alertly chased down Kevin Parada’s errant throw following a stolen base attempt by Miami’s Colby Shade.
Ewing got to the ball and made a strong throw to third base for the out.
The 21-year-old, who finished last season with Double-A Binghamton, has impressed Carlos Mendoza.
“There’s a lot to like,” Mendoza said. “I like him as a hitter at the plate. And his defense, he’s making great jumps and making some good plays with reads.
Ewing entered the spring as one of the top three players in the organization after swiping 70 bases last season in the minors. If he can hit well enough, Ewing can make an impact down the stretch.
“His ability to give you a really good at-bat from the left side and speed is pretty encouraging,” Mendoza said.
As Jorge Polanco works to acclimate to first base, he will have a few other infielders with little experience as his primary backups.
Mendoza said ahead of Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener that Brett Baty and Mark Vientos would likely get plenty of reps there, especially since veteran Polanco is expected to get a lot of time at DH.
“We have options,” Mendoza said of first base. “It depends on the games and the schedule. We feel very good about the boys if it is not about Polanco.”
The split could make sense, with the right-handed Vientos teaming up with the left-swinging Baty, who is still taking it easy this spring after struggling with his right hamstring early in camp.
“He continues to make progress,” Mendoza said of Baty. “He’s going in the right direction.”
There is no timetable yet for when Baty, who now works primarily at first base to protect hamstrings, could start working in the outfield.
Marcus Semien was at second base and leading for Saturday’s opener, but Mendoza said they would monitor the 35-year-old’s workload in the spring.
“He wants to play,” Mendoza said of Semien, who appeared in at least 155 games eight times in his career but was limited to 127 games last season by a left foot injury.
“He takes pride in being available and posting [and] be in the lineup,” Mendoza said. “We will have to keep a close eye on him and communicate as we get going.”
Mark Vientos and Luis Torrens are among the veterans expected to make the trip to Tampa on Sunday, along with Carson Benge.
Clay Holmes will make his Grapefruit League debut when he starts Monday’s game against Toronto in Dunedin, Florida.
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