3 promising Mets spring training performances so far

With Spring Training well underway for the New York Mets, we are getting a full glimpse of what this team will look like come Opening Day. New York is looking to rebound after a disappointing 2023 season and with injuries already beginning to mount for the Amazins, the Mets need some under-the-radar players to step up when giving the opportunity to do so.

With those opportunities, we have seen some players step in these exhibition games and have started to prove that come March 28 when the Mets play the Milwaukee Brewers to start their season, they can be factors on this team. So far this spring, these three Mets in particular have been making a case to be contributors to this team.

1. Tylor Megill

We knew heading into Spring Training that the Mets starting pitching rotation was going to be an issue. Especially now with the ace of the rotation Kodai Senga starting the season on the injured list with a shoulder injury that could sideline him through the month of April. But Tylor Megill who’s had consistency issues over his career is off to a great start this spring.

In the two games that Megill has appeared in, he has gone five innings, walking no batters, has seven strikeouts under his belt, and has only allowed one earned run. This is an encouraging sign for Megill since his last start of the regular season a year ago was the best of his career against the Philadelphia Phillies. In that outing on Sept. 30, Megill went the longest of his career going 7.1 innings giving up four hits and one earned run, walking two and striking out seven. So, it seems like Megill is building off that strong start in the spring thus far.

After walking 58 batters a season ago and having an ERA north of four, this start for Megill is significant for the Mets with all of the injuries, especially to the Mets pitching staff. Megill is also likely to be the Mets Opening Day starter and if he keeps this trend going, the Mets rotation may not be as big of a question mark as we anticipated after the departures of many key starters.

2. Jose Butto

Just like Megill, pitcher Jose Butto has been given the opportunity to prove that he can possibly be a reliable fifth-man starter in the rotation. Despite not having much experience being a consistent starting pitcher at the big league level, Butto has proven this so far this spring and has given Met fans some optimism thanks to his strong start.

Butto in his short but good-looking spring training outings has appeared in two games going 1-0 in three total innings and giving up four hits and no earned runs with three strikeouts. Despite only having little major league experience in 2023 going just 1-4 with a 3.64 ERA, Butto in spring training so far has looked more comfortable and is two outings.

The Mets rotation right now has some questions about it and it was important for the Mets and Butto to show that he can become a factor in the rotation. While Butto has only pitched in two games for New York, his outings have been good. If he keeps this up along with Megill, the Mets rotation will have the depth that they need to start the season in the absence of Senga.

3. Trayce Thompson

Despite already having lots of depth at the outfield position with players like Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte and first-year Met Harrison Bader, the Mets still thought they needed to add some more depth. Not only did they trade for outfielder Tyrone Taylor, but the Mets also brought in outfielder Trayce Thompson on a minor league deal and it looks like it’s paying off so far.

Thompson batted only .163 last season with six home runs and 17 RBI for the Chicago White Sox last season. However, he has been off to a great start this spring. Thompson has gone 4 for 8 in his at-bats this spring with two of those four hits having left the yard for home runs. Thompson has also driven in six runs and is showing his speed as well stealing two bases.

Even though Thompson hasn’t played a lot yet, this still is a great sign for the Mets to see. The Mets outfield looks like is going to be very crowded this season with Thompson likely being one of the odd men out, but he is starting to make a case to stay on this roster for the long haul. I think we have to take note of just how fast of a start he’s been in his first season with the Mets despite it only being at the spring training level. We all know he’s never going to replace a guy like Nimmo or Marte, but his fast start has been pleasant to see. The power is there folks and he is putting it on full display for the Mets.

This article was originally published on risingapple.com as 3 promising Mets spring training performances so far .