Mets Spring Training Update: February 22, 2019

Baseball is back! 

That’s right. In less than 24 hours, the Mets will be playing a game vs. the Atlanta Braves. It’s been a long winter, but hearing Gary Cohen’s voice is a reminder that spring is just around the corner. (Unless you’re a Seton Hall men’s basketball fan, I guess.)

Let’s talk about what’s happening in Port St. Lucie and around the league.

PETE ALONSO

That’s right. It’s Pete now.

Alonso has been getting rave reviews about his defense at first base. Mickey Callaway called his footwork “unbelievable.”

Brodie Van Wagenen addressed Peter Alonso breaking camp with the team again.

“We don’t want to miss out on winning the division by one game or two games because we didn’t break camp with the best 25 guys.”

Alonso capped off a lively round of batting practice with a mammoth blast to left field off Steven Matz.

JED LOWRIE

The Mets want to make sure he’s 100 percent before using him in games, so they’ll take things slow. Mickey Callaway has said Lowrie will only need about 40 at-bats to be ready for Opening Day.

1969 METS

Three members of the 1969 Championship Mets — Cleon Jones, Art Shamsky and Ed Kranepool — showed up at Mets camp today.

JACOB DEGROM

As we said yesterday, deGrom’s agents are in town and are expected to meet with the Mets to discuss a possible extension. Nothing to report other than that as of now.

MLB RULE CHANGES

MLB officially announces the implementation of a 20-second pitch clock during spring games.