Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets are off to Port St. Lucie.
The Mets equipment truck began its annual journey from Citi Field down to the Mets facilities in Florida in preparation for spring training.
Next stop: Port St. Lucie! ⚾️🌴 pic.twitter.com/5FqniyZ7SL
— New York Mets (@Mets) January 30, 2023
Of course the team wasn’t without some help from Mr. and Mrs. Met.
With the help of Mr. and Mrs. Met, the team's equipment truck pulled out of the Citi Field parking lot today for the long trip to Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Some players are already in PSL. The first pitcher/catcher workout is 16 days away.
(📸 courtesy of the Mets.) pic.twitter.com/VVXigOGyqp
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) January 30, 2023
The wait for baseball is almost over. Camps in the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues will begin accepting players again in the first few weeks of February. Players competing in the World Baseball Classic will report slightly earlier.
Pitchers and catchers in the WBC will report by Feb. 13 and position players by Feb. 16.
The Mets official report dates are set as Feb. 15 for pitchers and catchers and Feb. 20 for position players.
The first round of the WBC begins on March 8 with the championship game on March 21. The following Mets players have been reportedly involved: Brandon Nimmo (Italy), Pete Alonso (USA), Jeff McNeil (USA), Adam Ottavino (USA), Edwin Diaz (Puerto Rico), Francisco Lindor (Puerto Rico). Others including Mark Vientos (Venezuela) might play as well.
Kodai Senga (Japan) and Starling Marte (Dominican Republic) will not play.
The Mets won’t play their first spring training game until Saturday, Feb. 25 against the Marlins but you have to assume they’ll have some intrasquad scrimmages before then.
Spring training concludes on March 26 with Opening Day set for March 30.
