PORT ST. LUCIE — Jorge Polanco finally got to talk shop with one of the top all-time defensive players at his new position.
He left the conversation encouraged by the message.
That chat with Keith Hernandez occurred last weekend, following the former Gold Glove first baseman’s final spring training broadcast.
“[Hernandez] is a very nice guy and very humble,” Polanco told The Post on Friday.
Polanco, the new Mets first baseman — he had only one inning of major league experience at the position before camp began — said Hernandez found him in the home clubhouse at Clover Park and opened the dialogue.
“We talked about how important it is to be confident over there,” Polanco said. “Don’t [press] to be too good: You are going to be good because you used to play middle infield, so it’s, ‘You’re used to ground balls, all you have to do is try to be on time to the base and stay confident, stay positive.’ ”
Polanco said the big theme was arriving on time to the base on grounders hit to the infield.
“Know your infielders’ arms and what the balls do to them,” Polanco said. “It’s so you can be early to be a target, so being on time to the base is the most important thing. And I agree, because sometimes you might be looking and you might be late to the bag. Just get to the bag. The middle infielders, they have to wait for you, but you have to be on time. Don’t worry about looking before you get on the base.”
Hernandez won 11 straight Gold Glove Awards at first base for the Cardinals and Mets.
He was a key part of the last Mets team to win the World Series, in 1986.
“It was really good to hear from him,” Polanco said. “He’s a great man. I am going to see him again in New York, so I am looking forward to keep talking.”
In the meantime, Polanco is focused on these final few days of camp — the Mets will leave Florida following a workout Monday — ahead of Thursday’s season opener against the Pirates at Citi Field.
Polanco, after a slow start in the Grapefruit League, owns a 1.013 OPS this spring with two homers.
He arrived on a two-year contract worth $40 million after Pete Alonso’s departure through free agency.
“I am really happy with my spring so far,” Polanco said. “I am feeling really good. My body is feeling really good. I am really happy with the work we are doing over there in the training room.”
Last season, Polanco spent time working out at first base during pregame instruction, but only got into one game at the position, as a defensive replacement.
“I like how he’s using the whole bag, the footwork,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “The communication, getting used to his right and seeing where the second baseman is playing. But overall I think he’s making the transition smoothly and he’s in a good place.”
Polanco last season posted a .265/.326/.495 slash line with 26 homers and 78 RBIs.
In his new situation, he will likely hit cleanup, but in a lineup that also includes Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Bo Bichette, he won’t necessarily be considered a focal point.
“I feel really good to be part of this lineup,” Polanco said. “We have got a special group, special hitters, special lineup.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
