WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. — Edwin Diaz didn’t treat his Grapefruit League debut like a meaningless exhibition game that will have no impact on his 2021 statistics. Instead, he approached his first outing of the year like it was go-time.
“I’m taking this game pretty much as the start of the regular season,” Diaz said, through interpreter Alan Suriel, on his scoreless inning Saturday. “I’ve already had three live BPs, which I’ve used as practice. But right now my mentality is that this is a regular-season game.”
The Mets would be impressed if Diaz could pitch in the regular season like he did on Saturday. The closer hurled an effortless seven-pitch outing with a strikeout and two solid plays from shortstop Francisco Lindor that ended the third inning. He looked confident and raring to go for more, as manager Luis Rojas called his first appearance of spring “outstanding.”
Diaz appreciated the help he received from Lindor, particularly on a lineout from Jose Altuve that sailed straight into the shortstop’s glove. Lindor made a similar play with deGrom on the mound in the first inning.
“It feels good to have him behind me,” Diaz said of Lindor. “It gives me a little bit of comfort having him behind me just because he’s one of the best shortstops in the game… He’ll be able to make the play and he’ll give 100 percent every single time he’s out there.”
Diaz said he plans to use the same entrance music this season that he did in 2020 — when he recorded a 1.75 ERA over 26 games — because it helps him stay motivated and energetic. His warmup song, “Narco by Blasterjaxx & Timmy Trumpet, begins with a subtle trumpet solo before it cranks into a catchy, and powerful, electronic drop. Diaz said he used “Narco” to warmup during his successful seasons in 2017 and ’18 in Seattle and, so far, the song has given him the same results.
“My pitches feel good,” Diaz said. “I feel like I’m ready to go into the regular season the way that I am right now.”
DOM BOMB STARTS HIT PARADE
Dominic Smith, in just his fifth at-bat of spring training, launched a solo shot onto the berm in right field to leadoff the fourth inning. It was his first home run of the 2021 Grapefruit League, and he enjoyed it as a DH on Saturday. Rojas said Smith will start playing more left field once he gets some at-bats in at the plate.
“It’s nice to see Dom’s sweet swing,” Rojas said. “He stayed on that one today so he can do what he does. Drive the ball — quiet, sweet, swing that he has.”
Smith’s dinger got the rest of the lineup fired up in the fourth inning. James McCann, who already crushed a double in the second inning, lined a single to center in his 2-for-3 day. Kevin Pillar ripped an RBI single to score McCann, and the Mets’ fourth outfielder also worked a solid at-bat that resulted in a walk in the second.
FUTURE IS NOW
Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Mets’ top outfield prospect who is enjoying life on a big-league club as a teenager, notched his first professional baseball hit in the Mets’ 6-1 win over the Astros on Saturday. Crow-Amstrong, 18, ripped a stand-up triple into right field, lost his helmet somewhere around second base and easily trotted into third.
The speedy centerfielder has gained more confidence throughout his Grapefruit League experience, and Rojas has enjoyed the patience Crow-Armstrong has shown in his at-bats.
Fellow Mets prospect, shortstop Ronny Mauricio, moments later scored Crow-Armstrong on a single to right. Mauricio, only 19 years old, could make his Major League debut as soon as next season. He ranks as the team’s No. 1 overall prospect in its newly-refreshed farm system.
“Mauricio has looked really mature,” Rojas said. “This kid is turning into a man right now. And this great experience is making him better.”
Other Mets prospects, including newcomer Khalil Lee who joined the Mets last month as part of a three-team trade with the Red Sox and Royals, also made appearances in Saturday’s game. Outfielder Lee, the Mets’ No. 7 overall prospect, worked a walk and Mark Vientos was deployed at first base.
“I’m really excited,” Rojas said of the work his prospects are putting into exhibition games. “They’re all coachable. You can approach them in a game. It’s just been great to have them.”
