Adrian Gonzalez may not have gotten off to the hottest start in Mets camp, but that doesn’t mean the team isn’t expecting him to be the Opening Day first baseman.
His only competition, 22-year-old Dominic Smith, has appeared in just one Grapefruit League game, as his chances to break camp with the team dwindle each day.
“Adrian’s done a nice job. He’s fit in very well,” Alderson said. “I know he’s working hard. We were looking for a veteran presence — or influence, at least — and unfortunately Dom has been unable to play. As time moves on, that makes it more and more difficult for Dom [to make the Opening Day lineup].”
The 35-year-old Gonzalez has hit just. 208/.269/.519 (5-for-24) this Spring. However, he has made it a priority to stay loose and make sure he prepares daily so he can mitigate injury.
The 14-year veteran appeared in just 71 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, in a season that was hampered with back issues.
“Everything I came into spring wanting to do I’ve been able to do,” Gonzalez said. “I feel like keep getting at-bats, my swing, my everything, my timing, my rhythm — it’s going to continue to get better and get to where I want to be. Come Opening Day, I should be in a really good position.”
As for Smith, it’s been a disappointing Spring. In a preseason where he was supposed to show up and fight for the first base job, he hasn’t done so. Apart from playing in just one Spring game, he also got off on the wrong foot by being late to the first Spring Training game.
With that being said, Mets skipper Mickey Callaway said it’ll be hard for Smith to start the season in Queens.
“I don’t know that you can ever say ‘impossible,’ because things can happen, but it’s tough. It’s tough,” he said.”
Finally, Callaway credited players such as Gonzalez, Todd Frazier and Asdrubal Cabrera as being strong presences for young shortstop Amed Rosario, who is gearing up for his first full year as a big leaguer.
“Those guys are really going to help [Rosario] during the season,” he said. “As many reps as we can get in Spring Training with those guys out there, that’s going to be big for us.”
