Everything you need to know for Mets Spring Training
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This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo¡¯s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
NEW YORK -- Pete Alonso's new contract was the Mets¡¯ last major unchecked box heading into Spring Training. Even before Alonso re-signed, players had begun filtering into Port St. Lucie, Fla. The majority will be there by the middle of next week.
It¡¯s a group that includes prominent newcomers like Juan Soto, as well as Alonso, Sean Manaea and other well-known returnees. They¡¯ll all gather on Florida¡¯s Treasure Coast to begin chasing the goal that eluded them last season: a World Series title.
When is the first workout for pitchers and catchers?
Feb. 14
What is the date of the first full-squad workout?
Feb. 17
When is the team¡¯s first Grapefruit League game?
Feb. 22 against an Astros split-squad at Clover Park.
How about a few other notable spring games?
Over the past few years, the Mets have played a geographically tight schedule, with most of their games coming against the nearby Cardinals, Marlins, Astros and Nationals. That will again be the case, with five exceptions: March 1 and 17 against the Rays, March 2 and 13 against the Red Sox, and March 24 -- the spring finale -- against the Yankees.
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Where is the team¡¯s facility?
Clover Park is located just off Exit 121 on I-95. It¡¯s about 50 minutes north of West Palm Beach, Fla. and two hours north of Miami.
Can fans attend workouts?
Yes, workouts are free to the public each morning. Timings vary by day, and the team has yet to announce this year¡¯s schedule, but workouts generally happen from mid-morning until around 1 p.m.
Who are some new faces fans should know?
Got a pen? In addition to Soto, who inked the largest free-agent contract in baseball history, the Mets added starting pitchers Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes and Griffin Canning; reliever A.J. Minter; infielders Nick Madrigal and Jared Young; outfielder Jose Siri; and many others on Minor League deals or waiver claims.
Which top prospects are invited to Major League camp?
While the Mets have yet to announce their full spring roster, prospects already on the 40-man roster include Ronny Mauricio (No. 6) and Luisangel Acu?a (No. 12). Non-roster players Jett Williams (No. 2) and Drew Gilbert (No. 3) spent time in big league camp last year and should do so again. Fans may also get looks at top pitching prospects Brandon Sproat (No. 1), Blade Tidwell (No. 8) and Nolan McLean (No. 9), among others.
What is Spring Breakout and when is the game?
Debuting last year, Spring Breakout pits teams of prospects against each other for special exhibitions around Florida and Arizona. This year, Mets prospects will take on their Nationals counterparts in a 5:05 p.m. ET game at West Palm Beach on March 16. Expect most of the Mets¡¯ Top 30 prospects to be involved.
Will the team¡¯s games be televised?
Fourteen of the Mets¡¯ 16 spring home games will be televised on SNY or WPIX, with Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling scheduled to call their Feb. 22 and 23 contests. In addition, Daniel Murphy will return to the booth alongside Cohen for the Mets¡¯ March 23 and 24 games. Other games will air on national television and on MLB.TV via road broadcast streams. Only a few road games will be completely ¡°dark,¡± with no television or broadcast feeds.
When is the club¡¯s last game in Florida?
March 24 against the Yankees. From there, the Mets will head to Texas for a pair of off-days in advance of Opening Day.
What are the details for Opening Day?
The Mets will open their season March 27 at 4:10 p.m. ET in Houston. They¡¯ll play a three-game series from Thursday through Saturday, then travel to Miami for three more, fly back to Queens and play their home opener April 4 against the Blue Jays.