JUPITER, Fla. — With several members of the Mets set to depart camp over the next few days to join their respective teams in the World Baseball Classic, manager Buck Showalter gathered a group of them in the visiting manager’s office in Jupiter to wish them well on Sunday morning.
He was succinct and to the point: Go win and good luck.
“Very Buck-like,” shortstop Francisco Lindor said.
It was a bittersweet day for the manager who tends to revel in a team atmosphere. Showalter can frequently be found circling the clubhouse to talk to his players throughout the day, though he is always conscious of giving them their space.
“I was kind of sad to say goodbye to those guys today,” Showalter said. “It’s going to be a long time without them. All of those guys are definitely ready to go… Everybody that’s getting our players in the WBC, they’re ready.”
There are legitimate concerns for every manager and every club when it comes to losing players to a two-week tournament. However, the WBC does serve a bigger purpose in helping grow baseball worldwide.
The event didn’t draw the best talent in its early years but that started to change in 2013 and 2017 and now nearly every roster has some star power. The U.S. roster is especially loaded with with players like Mike Trout and Mookie Betts. Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley will join Trout and Betts in Arizona to start the tournament.
It’s especially meaningful for Alonso, considering he tried out for the USA Under-18 team before his senior year at Plant High School in Tampa and made several rounds of cuts before ultimately going home without a spot on the team.
“This is going to be a really special opportunity,” Alonso said after homering against St. Louis. “It’s not every day someone gets to represent the United States. For me, this is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I tried out in high school and didn’t make the team. They didn’t select me for anything in college. But now, this is really darn cool.”
Ottavino played in the event in 2017 for Team Italy and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play for Team USA when he was asked a few months ago.
“It’s kind of hard to explain the energy behind it unless you’re in it,” he said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do at some stop along the way. It’s an honor. I don’t take it lightly.”
Lindor capped off his WBC prep Sunday with a long home run off of former Yankees left-hander Jordan Montgomery. He and his fellow Puerto Rican teammate Edwin Diaz came into spring training ready for competitive action and it showed. Like many present-day baseball players, they prefer to use spring to sharpen their skills instead of trying to condition for the regular season.
Lindor is hoping to show his pride, passion and homer-hitting abilities in a tough bracket that includes Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Israel and Nicaragua.
“Time of my life,” Lindor said. “Whenever I get to put the Puerto Rican uniform on it’s a very proud moment. It’s a special event and I can’t wait to get into the clubhouse with all of my teammates and hang out with them and their families, bond and grow from that experience. And, hopefully, win.”
And, hopefully, stay healthy.
Brett Baty went 2-for-2 in Sunday’s game to raise his spring training average to .471. The third base prospect has hit safely in five of 10 games.
Outfielder Tim Locastro continued his solid spring going 2-for-3 with two RBI and two doubles. He also used his speed to create a run by stealing third base — his fourth steal of the spring — and reaching home on a throwing error by Montgomery. The pitcher was flustered by the steal and couldn’t make the throw to third. The former Yankees outfielder is hitting .353 with a 1.064 OPS this spring.
The Mets are off on Monday and resume Grapefruit League action Tuesday night in West Palm Beach against the Houston Astros with right-hander Carlos Carrasco slated to pitch.
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