TAMPA — Mark Vientos has started just 12 games at first base in the majors — and 66 in the minors.
But there’s a chance he could get a lot more time at the position this season, with Jorge Polanco likely to be at DH frequently.
Mendoza has pointed to both the right-handed Vientos and lefty-swinging Brett Baty as something of a backup platoon, and Vientos got his first game action at first on Sunday.
“It’s good to get my feet wet in the first game,” said Vientos, who’s been working with infield coach Tim Leiper and bench coach Kai Correa. “Getting everyday reps over there [will] for sure get me a lot more comfortable.”
There are some scouts who believe Vientos fits better at first than he does at third, where his defensive issues have been clear throughout his career.
“I think sometimes he tries to do too much at third,” one National League scout said. “That could be less of an issue at first.”
Mendoza said he’s confident in Vientos’ ability to receive the ball at first and is more focused on his work around the bag.
“We know he’s got really good hands, but I think his ability to use the whole bag — corner to corner — when he’s going to stretch for throws [is important],” Mendoza said.
If Ryan Clifford makes it to the majors, it will likely be due to his bat.
He hit a combined 29 homers in 579 plate appearances last season split between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse.
But he’s also working to become a more versatile player on defense, as evidenced by starting 66 games at first base, 27 in left field and 24 in right last season.
On Sunday, he was in left in his Grapefruit League debut as he works on his technique in the outfield.
“I try to be quick laterally and make sure my feet are moving and I’m putting myself in the right direction, getting to top speed as quick as I can,” Clifford said.
He’s also trying to be more aggressive at the plate in order not to miss the best pitch of an at-bat.
Mendoza believes Clifford could be a potential option in the outfield at some point and is looking for more consistent contact at the plate.
The 22-year-old’s strikeout rate decreased at Double-A from 2024 to 2025 and then dipped a bit lower when Clifford was promoted to Syracuse last season.
“We know the power and the ability to control the strike zone [is there],” Mendoza said. “It just comes down to him making contact on a consistent basis. He did that in Triple-A.”
Cristian Pache hasn’t played in the majors since 2024 and spent all of last season with Arizona’s Triple-A Reno affiliate.
The 27-year-old signed a minor league deal with the Mets in the offseason in an effort to win an outfield job with the organization.
He was in the lineup in center field on Sunday and had a pair of hits.
Justin Hagenman, a 29-year-old right-hander who pitched nine games for the Mets last season, including one start, gave up one run on a pair of hits and three walks in 2 ¹/₃ innings in his start against the Yankees.
He also struck out three.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
