Brett Baty is a man without a position for the New York Mets, but the former third baseman is taking it reasonably well. He was penciled in to be the starter until the Mets suddenly signed Bo Bichette in free agency, and the team was also rumored to be in the mix for free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, which would have blocked Bath’s subsequent move to left field.
But Brady has read the writing on the wall, and he’s taking steps to make sure he’s ready for whatever comes next. He’s not adverse to becoming the Mets version of a so-called super utility player, so he’s channeling his preparation in that direction.
“I just was like, ‘All right, let’s go do some outfield, some first base.’” Baty said in a piece written by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “‘Let’s go everywhere.’"
“Everywhere” initially meant Dripping Springs, Texas, where Baty spent the offseason working out with defensive instructor Jacob Madrid after making his way south with what he called “a car full of gloves.” The drills Madrid put Baty through included cones to sharpen agility, tossing baseballs to him from every angle, height and position, and even some close-range fireballs to keep Baty on his toes.
Madrid also did these drills with Baty on both sides of Baty’s body, which was designed to increase his neuroplasticity, which is the concept behind the brain’s ability to reorganize its neural connections when we learn something new.
The defensive instructor is especially impressed by Baty’s ability to add multiple positions to his resume without batting an eye.
“His mindset is really carrying him through all of it,” Madrid said in a telephone interview. “I can’t imagine, at that level, picking up a fourth position that late in the game and keeping your head on your shoulders and staying competitive. He handled it better than I would.”
The Mets are hoping Baty’s progress in this new arrangement mirrors what they’ve seen from him to date. Baty struggled at third early in his career, according to DiComo, but he made “significant strides” at the position, which helped him earn more playing time. It didn’t hurt that his slash line was 289/.352/.462 from June 23 to the end of the season, which was second only to that of outfielder Juan Soto.
“I just want to go out there and be the best hitter, player, defender I can be, really good teammate, work hard every day,” Baty said, “and I think the at-bats will follow if I do all those things. If I play how I know I’m capable of playing, I’ll definitely get the at-bats.”
What will help him in with the fielding part of the transition will be his attitude, which Madrid said is unique in one important way that goes beyond Baty’s unique athleticism.
“He’s the most competitive person I’ve ever met,” the fielding coach concluded.