Mets Seek Answers to Key Questions at Spring Training

New faces and new roles highlight the Mets' transformative preseason ahead of the 2026 season

Feb. 10, 2026 at 5:47am

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The New York Mets will have several new faces and key position changes as they head to spring training in Port St. Lucie, Florida. With an almost entirely new coaching staff, the additions of Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Freddy Peralta, and others, the Mets' 2026 preseason is shaping up to be one of the more transformative in recent memory. The team will be looking to answer questions about their young infielders, new defensive alignments, pitching prospects, and the bounce-back potential of outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

Why it matters

The Mets are looking to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season and the team's new faces and position changes will be crucial to their success in 2026. How the team's young players and new acquisitions adapt and perform this spring will set the tone for the regular season.

The details

The Mets will have several key position battles and player developments to monitor this spring. Infielders Brett Baty and Mark Vientos will look to solidify their roles, while new additions Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco transition to new defensive positions at third base and first base respectively. Pitching prospects such as Tylor McLean and Jose Tong will aim to build on their late-season success in 2025, and top prospect Carson Benge will look to force his way onto the Opening Day roster. The team will also be closely watching the performance of outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who is looking to bounce back at the plate after two down seasons.

  • The Mets' spring training camp opens in mid-February 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
  • The Mets open the 2026 regular season on March 25.

The players

Brett Baty

A 26-year-old infielder who earned an everyday role in 2025 and will look to solidify his spot in the Mets' lineup this spring.

Mark Vientos

A right-handed hitting infielder with 27-home run, 71-RBI potential who will look to rebound from a down 2025 season.

Bo Bichette

The Mets' new third baseman, who will be transitioning from shortstop and looking to adapt to the hot corner.

Jorge Polanco

The Mets' new first baseman, who has only played one career inning at the position and will be learning a new defensive role.

Tylor McLean

A 24-year-old pitching prospect who impressed late in 2025 and will look to build on that success this spring.

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What they’re saying

“There's going to be learning curves. We're going to make mistakes. I also have a high degree of confidence that both those players are going to figure it out and be able to play their positions at a pretty high level.”

— David Stearns, Mets President of Baseball Operations

What’s next

The Mets will be closely monitoring the progress of their young players and new acquisitions throughout spring training, with key decisions to be made on the Opening Day roster by the end of March.

The takeaway

The Mets' transformative offseason has set the stage for an intriguing and pivotal spring training as the team looks to rebound in 2026. How the new faces and position changes come together will be crucial to the Mets' success this season.