New York Mets spring training: 3 biggest losers so far

3 biggest losers of NY Mets spring training so far

New York Mets' Eduardo Escobar (10) slides home safely to score a run during the spring training season home opener against the Miami Marlins on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie. The Mets played split squad games Saturday. The other half of the team played the Houston Astros in West Palm Beach.Tcn Mets Opener /

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Feb 23, 2023; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar (10) poses for a picture during the New York Mets media photo day at Clover Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Whether it’s fair or not, there are three players that can be considered the biggest losers of New York Mets Spring Training so far. This can be due to their own struggles, or even just a player taking a job from them.

The New York Mets entered Spring Training with lofty expectations. They won 101 games last season but fell short in the postseason. They lost key pieces like Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker, but spent a ton of money to form what could be an even better team.

These are exciting times in Queens but that also means players have to perform up to par to keep their jobs. Whether it’s because of poor performance or another player simply taking their job, these three players appear to be the biggest losers from Mets Spring Training so far.

3. NY Mets 3B Eduardo Escobar is on the verge of losing his starting job

Eduardo Escobar is a good player. He can hit for power, plays decent enough defense, and is an extraordinary clubhouse presence. After a rocky beginning to his season, Escobar really turned it on in September and kept the Mets in the division race. Overall, he hit 20 home runs with a 106 OPS+. Nothing special, but not bad by any means either.

Escobar was on the verge of losing his job to Brett Baty, one of the better prospects in all of baseball, before going on his hot stretch and watching Baty injure his thumb and go on the IL for the rest of the season.

Escobar having just two hits in 16 at-bats this spring isn’t great, but that wasn’t going to cost him his job. Baty on the other hand seems to be taking it away from him.

The 23-year-old has 11 hits in 26 at-bats including a home run. He’s made some fine plays at third, and looks like the potential superstar the Mets seem to have always thought he would be.

Baty was up last season and looked like he was getting adjusted to MLB pitching right before hurting his thumb. With the Mets trying to win right now, they need to start the best players. Baty appears to be part of that group and is getting closer and closer to beating Escobar out for the starting third base job (if he hasn’t already).

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