Brett Baty Takes a Swing at a Brand-New Challenge: First Base for the Mets
PORT ST. LUCIE — For most of the last seven seasons, the answer about who manned first base was practically written in stone. Pete Alonso held the role every day, reliable at scooping up tough grounders, even if his range and arm didn’t stand out as elite.
Those days are behind them. Alonso’s exit has left a noticeable void in the lineup, more than in the infield. Until the Mets settle on a reliable mix of Jorge Polanco, Mark Vientos, and Brett Baty at first, curiosity will linger about how the new infield will function.
Last Saturday marked another step in that journey. Baty, taking his initial spring turn at first base, showed that the task is far from cakewalk, yet he held his own as a left-handed hitter who doesn’t yet look perfectly natural at the position.
“It was a fun challenge out there,” Baty said after a 3-2 loss to Washington at Clover Park. He’d never played a game at first in either the majors or minors before Saturday. “There were no mistakes, but it didn’t look pretty, either. We’ll get better over there, for sure.”
The overall showing, though, left Baty feeling encouraged.
“It gives me confidence going into the next game,” he added.
One play—Wood’s grounder to the right side—shook him briefly before he sprinted to first as Marcus Semien fielded cleanly at second. Baty noted that some scenarios only become clear once you experience them in a game, not in practice.
Discussing that specific play, Baty mentioned consulting infield coach Kai Correa and Carlos Mendoza as part of his ongoing learning process.
“I felt like I wanted to go get the ball,” he explained. “That’s just how I’ve always been: at third base, go after every ball you can. Same thing at second. Some balls I wanted to grab, but I had to remember Marcus is right behind me and I needed to hustle to first.”
He recalled watching Alonso excel at anticipating where the second baseman would be and focusing on being at first base—an approach Baty admired in his former teammate who left for Baltimore this offseason.
Baty’s spring won’t be limited to first base. He’s also slated to see time in the outfield, with Mendoza indicating he’s likely to start in right field to keep Baty on the right side of the diamond.
“I tell people I feel like a football receiver out there,” Baty joked about the outfield workload. “I can catch fly balls and show off the arm. I like it out there.”
Above all, he wants to stay in the lineup, and if everything goes to plan, he’ll rotate through first, second, and third bases, with the possibility of appearances in left and right field.
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“I love tackling adversity,” Baty said, describing the effort to become a more versatile player. “Any way to get at-bats and help the team win.”
Three first-base contenders—Polanco, Vientos, and Baty—will all face growing pains. Polanco is transitioning from the middle infield, while Vientos, who will play third for Team Nicaragua in the WBC, brings limited major-league first-base experience (a total of 12 games).
The trio has until March 26 to tighten their comfort with the position. Mendoza noted the many facets of first base they must master—positioning, handling in-between plays, holding runners, and knowing proper cutoffs.
Mendoza remains confident they’ll rise to the challenge.
“I feel comfortable that any of the three can play first base,” the manager said. He added of Baty, “I’d like to keep giving him as many reps as possible. It’s not easy, but he’s embracing the opportunity. He’s up for the challenge.”
