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Mets Pitcher Sean Manaea Starts Chess Club During Spring Training
The informal group fosters camaraderie and mental sharpness among young players
Feb. 21, 2026 at 10:25pm
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New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea has started an informal chess club during spring training in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The club, which includes prospects like Carson Benge, Ryan Clifford, Jonah Tong, Jacob Reimer, and Jack Wenninger, gathers before workouts to play chess and learn strategy. Manaea hopes the club will expand league-wide, as similar initiatives have emerged with the Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan.
Why it matters
The chess club provides a mentally stimulating activity for players during downtime, helping them sharpen their minds and build stronger relationships off the field. This reflects a broader trend in MLB to embrace cognitive games as tools for player development and team unity.
The details
Manaea, who has been passionate about chess since his youth, started the club to create a space where younger players can connect and challenge each other. The game has become a focal point during spring training, with players like Christian Scott and Jonah Tong joining in. While finding opponents outside the Mets has been a challenge, Manaea has reached out to other teams, including the Guardians' Kwan.
- The chess club started at the beginning of the Mets' spring training in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
The players
Sean Manaea
A New York Mets pitcher who started the informal chess club during spring training.
Carson Benge
A Mets prospect who participates in the chess club.
Ryan Clifford
A Mets prospect who participates in the chess club.
Jonah Tong
A Mets player who has been actively competing with Manaea in the chess club.
Christian Scott
A Mets player who has been watching the chess games in the clubhouse.
What they’re saying
“There's been this dream to have a little chess club. It's all the young'uns and they're all super into it, which is pretty cool. … Chess is such a cool, cool thing.”
— Sean Manaea
“When I got [Tommy John] surgery, I was trying to find some new, fun things to do, and a friend encouraged me to play regularly on our phones.”
— Christian Scott, Mets player
“I'm trying to think two moves ahead, because that's what he does. He's better than me.”
— Jonah Tong, Mets player
“and I vowed to never let it happen again. He's got a lot to learn but we play all the time.”
— Sean Manaea
What’s next
Manaea hopes to expand the chess club to include players from other MLB teams, building a league-wide network of chess enthusiasts.
The takeaway
The Mets' chess club led by Sean Manaea demonstrates how cognitive games can foster camaraderie and mental sharpness among players during spring training, setting a precedent for other teams to embrace similar initiatives that go beyond just physical drills.
