Over the last few days, fans down in Port St. Lucie have gotten the first glimpse of the 2023 Mets in action.
The team heads into this season with a record payroll, and fans are hoping it pays off.
“The Mets have the most pressure on them,” fan Allan Kruger said. “That payroll is approximately 340, 350 million dollars. It is all or nothing.”
What You Need To Know
- Position players for the New York Mets officially reported to spring training for the first official full-team workout on Monday
- The first official spring training game is Saturday
- The Mets begin their regular season on Thursday, March 30 in Miami against the Marlins
- Fans have big expectations for the team after an offseason in which the Mets spent a lot of money on free agents
The clubhouse is filled with many familiar faces and a couple of new ones.
But no matter how long these athletes have been wearing orange and blue, they say they are eagerly waiting to play in front of their fans at home in Queens.
“A new fanbase, obviously they don’t know me very well, and I think the one thing I can say is that I give it everything I got,” pitcher Justin Verlander said.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor — who signed a 10-year extension with the Mets in 2021 — agrees.
“The game is a lot better. You know, you get into, they get into it. They push you. It is fun to be around them,” Lindor said.
There is another familiar face returning to the Mets this season — this time in a new role.
Carlos Beltran has been brought on as a special assistant to Mets General Manager Billy Eppler.
“I am excited to be around and looking forward to contribute to the organization to the coach, to the players, to the minor league guys. I think this job is going to allow me to be around prospects and guys on the big league level,” Beltran said.
The Mets end the week with a few innings of split squad scrimmages to get ready for their first official Grapefruit League game on Saturday.
The 2023 regular season for the Mets begins on Thursday, March 30 in Miami against the Marlins. The home opener in Queens will come on Thursday, April 6 — also against the Marlins.