Six Key Things To Watch In Early Spring Games

Let’s play ball!

Spring training games are now officially underway and the New York Mets will begin their Grapefruit League schedule on Saturday afternoon.

In total, the Mets will play 31 spring training games – 32 if you include the Spring Breakout. And, as always, there is a ton of intrigue and excitement prior to the first Grapefruit League contest.

Furthermore, there is something really quite beautiful about the start of spring training games. You can feel the weather start to change, we have actual baseball games to digest and it all means Opening Day is just getting closer.

To that end, here are some compelling storylines to watch out for over the next few days…

SIX THINGS TO WATCH 

STAR ATTRACTION

Spring training games mean very little in the grand scheme of things, other than acting as a means for players to ramp up to the games that do matter. They also provide a platform for prospects to impress and fight for roster spots. Outside of those two things, however, the results in these Grapefruit League games won’t matter.

What will matter, though, and especially on Saturday, will be fans getting the first opportunity to see Juan Soto in a Mets uniform in an actual game environment. Soto will make his unofficial debut for the team in Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener against the Astros. It will be a moment Mets fans have been waiting for all offseason long, and maybe even longer than that.

Granted, Soto will only play a few innings before making a swift exit from the game, but the occasion will still be special for all involved. After watching Soto hit at a Hall of Fame level for other teams, including the Yankees, it will be nice to see the generational hitter do it in Mets colors. A home run in his spring debut would be even nicer.

Plus, with manager Carlos Mendoza leaning towards hitting Soto second in the lineup, behind Francisco Lindor, it will be fascinating to see how the lineup with Soto in it takes shape over the course of spring training.

TRANSITION TIME

Outside of Soto, one of the Mets’ biggest offseason additions was Clay Holmes, who signed a three-year, $38 million contract in December. What was bigger perhaps, however, was the news that the Mets intend on using Holmes as a starter in Queens. The righty saved 74 games over a three-year span for the Yankees, including 30 in 2024 before losing the closer job in September after also blowing 13 saves.

Those days are seemingly behind Holmes now, and his transition to a full-time starter will begin on Saturday. The two-time All-Star is expected to get the start against the Astros on Saturday, and the hope is he will go around three innings. Of all the things to keep an eye on during the early weeks of spring training will be how Holmes adjusts to his new role, and how that will impact the rotation as we edge closer to Opening Day.

COMPETITION TIME

Without doubt the biggest question mark hovering over this team is the starting rotation. President of baseball operations David Stearns is again banking on the collective effort rather than relying on one or two elite arms to carry the pitching. It was a strategy that paid off in a huge way in 2024. We will see if similar magic can happen in 2025.

You can’t be blamed if you have doubts, though. Outside of Sean Manaea, there are a lot of question marks. And we will get some answers to the test throughout the first batch of spring training games. Can Holmes become a reliable starter? What will Kodai Senga look like after an injury-ravaged 2024 season? Will David Peterson continue to pitch at a high level? Can Paul Blackburn be a consistent arm over the course of a full season? And who will win the battle for that sixth spot in the rotation with Frankie Montas currently injured? Can Tylor Megill add some much-needed consistency to his game? Or will Griffin Canning enjoy a strong start to spring and move ahead of Megill in the depth chart? Or could there be a late addition to the rotation?

All of those pitching storylines will be intriguing to watch play out over the first load of Grapefruit League games. And the rotation will continue to be the biggest conversation starter in the buildup to Opening Day.

PROSPECT WATCH

One of the most enjoyable and fun aspects of spring training is getting to watch the future stars of tomorrow battle and make the most of their chance in big league camp. The Mets have a handful of prospects who could earn a call-up to The Show at some point in 2025. Arguably the most intriguing prospect to keep an eye on in the early part of spring training will be Brandon Sproat. The right-handed pitcher has filthy stuff and looks certain to pitch in the majors at some point in 2025. A fast start in spring training could mean a call-up in May or June. Sproat is arguably the prospect most fans are invested in given how important pitching is, and his early spring starts will be must-watch.

Other names to keep an eye on will be Luisangel Acuña (more on him later), Ryan Clifford, Jett Williams, and Drew Gilbert. Williams and Gilbert were hurt for most of 2024, so will need a big spring training in order to prove their health. And, as for Clifford, the outfielder has a lot of power and a dominant spring could pave the way for a call-up later on in the season. All in all, the first few games will allow us all an opportunity to see how talented and ready some of the organization’s top prospects really are.

SECOND BASE FLEXIBILITY 

Both David Stearns and owner Steve Cohen have spoken about the importance of roster flexibility this offseason. Stearns expanded on that point when closing the door on a return for Jose Iglesias. Instead, there could be an open competition at second base this year. Jeff McNeil, who is looking to prove that he’s still got something left in the tank, could be the Opening Day second baseman. However, there will seemingly be opportunities for the likes of Brett Baty and Acuña to challenge McNeil for the job in spring. Throw Nick Madrigal and, when he’s healthy, Ronny Mauricio into the mix too. Overall, the intense battle for reps at second – and an infield utility role – could shape up to be one of the most fascinating developments to fixate on as games begin.

NEW FACES

Outside of the notable additions of Soto and Holmes, the Mets were busy this offseason. Madrigal and Canning were on-the-margin signings, Jose Siri was signed to improve the outfield defense, and Frankie Montas and A.J. Minter were notable pitching acquisitions. When you throw in the returns of Sean Manaea, Pete Alonso, Jesse Winker, and Ryne Stanek, Mets fans will have plenty of new and familiar faces to pay close attention to in the first few games of Grapefruit League action. After all, watching old heroes and fresh names for the first time after a long winter is always one of the biggest thrills of spring training.