PORT ST. LUCIE - The Mets opened Grapefruit League play Saturday with a 2-1 loss at home to the Miami Marlins, managing to get only two hits in the game.
Here are the top takeaways:
-Of most interest, Bo Bichette played his first game as a Met and made his debut at third base. Other than a routine pop-up, the only fair ball he had a chance to make a play on was Connor Norby’s ground ball down the line in the fourth inning.
Bichette had to range to his right, nearly to the foul line to backhand the ball, and from there his throw wasn’t particularly strong, as well as a bit off-line.
First baseman Jose Rojas stretched for the ball and dropped it, getting an error on the play.
So it could have been an out, but the throw also raised the question that scouts have had about whether Bichette has the arm strength to make those types of plays at third base.
In his two at-bats, Bichette went 0-for-2.
He grounded a chopper the other way, down the first base line, but Marlins’ first baseman Christopher Morel made a nice play, grabbing the ball over his shoulder going back for it, and throwing to the pitcher for the out.
Bichette also grounded to third in his second at-bat before coming out of the game.
-Carlos Mendoza’s lineup featured two more regulars, Juan Soto and Marcus Semien. Each went 0-for-2 before leaving the game.
Semien popped to third and struck out swinging. Soto popped to short and grounded out to first.
-Mets’ starting pitcher was lefty Brandon Waddell, who could earn a spot in the Mets’ bullpen with a strong spring, as AJ Minter won’t be ready to open the season.
Waddell threw two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out three of the six hitters he faced.
-The Mets were held scoreless until the eighth inning, when they loaded the bases and scored a run on AJ Ewing’s sacrifice fly to center. Ewing emerged last season as a top prospect for the Mets and has a chance to be the center fielder of the future.
Veteran catcher Austin Barnes, competing for the backup at age 36, had the first hit for the Mets, lining a single to center in the fifth inning.
-Ronny Mauricio was the first Met to reach base, on a throwing error in the second inning, and he promptly stole second, getting one of those running leads/early starts with which they had so much success last season.
There were questions whether the Mets’ running game would be as good this season, after first base coach Antoan Richardson left to take a job with the Atlanta Braves. Richardson was credited with much of the success in how aggressive the Mets were last season.
Mauricio, meanwhile, hasn’t received much attention in Mets’ camp, but he could wind up starting the season at shortstop if Francisco Lindor isn’t ready to return after last week’s surgery for a broken hamate bone.
-MJ Melendez, who could be a candidate for playing time in right field, made two nice running catches from that position.
He ranged far to catch one fly ball in foul territory, nearly reaching the fence in front of the seats. On the second one, he was playing toward the gap, had to come a long way over and in to catch a shallow fly ball. Looked under control on each one.
Highlights
Ronny Mauricio swipes second base after reaching on an error! pic.twitter.com/R7MMPft90E
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 21, 2026
Two nice running catches by MJ Melendez pic.twitter.com/fTlyfxAgob
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 21, 2026
What's next
The Mets continue spring training action against the Yankees on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.