Photo by Ed Delany

New York Mets first baseman Adrian Gonzalez played in a minor league game on Thursday afternoon and went 5 for 8 with two doubles facing Miami Marlins pitching.

Gonzalez requested from manager Mickey Callaway that he do so to work on his timing after a slow start to his spring (.520 OPS in 33 at-bats on major league side).

Despite the slow start for Gonzalez, Mets GM Sandy Alderson told Matt Ehalt of NJ.com that he’s comfortable with what they have at first, “We’re not happy Dom hasn’t been able to play but very happy with the progress Adrian is making. He seems to be coming around. Outstanding first baseman and great in the clubhouse. Right now, we’re in pretty good shape. (Wilmer) Flores is available, (Jay) Bruce in a pinch.”

The youngster Dominic Smith has been limited to only one at-bat due to a quad injury and was scratched from his lone chance to start a game because he was tardy for a team meeting. A disappointing camp for Smith after he worked hard this offseason to get himself into much better playing shape than he has been the past few seasons.

Mets do have a few options if Alderson is simply playing coy here, the New York Yankees recently released righty crusher Adam Lind and the pop of Mark Reynolds is still a free agent. According to Ehalt the Mets are not considering Lind at the moment.

The Mets have yet to get the veteran Jay Bruce any reps at first base this spring though he did play there in 12 games last season. First base has been the best defensive position for Wilmer Flores (-1 DRS) in his career, but it’s likely he faces mostly lefties despite a career-high .765 OPS against righties last season.

Gonzalez, signed with the Mets for league minimum is confident as well, “Being on a new team you want to have good results but at the same time you don’t want to focus too much on results. You want to focus on the process. As long as the process is there and you’re working toward the goal to be right coming day one of the regular season, that’s all that matters.”

The 35-year-old Gonzalez is coming off a 2017 season in which he hit .242/.287/.355 with -1.2 WAR and played in only 71 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers.