Martinez tears meniscus in collision with umpire, will be out 4 months

WESTPALMBEACH— Call it bad luck or a freak accident, but Jose Martinez’s run-in with an umpire will cost him the majority of the Mets’ upcoming season.

Martinez tore the meniscus in his left knee when he collided with first-base umpire Greg Gibson in the fourth inning of the Mets’ 4-4 tie with the Marlins on Sunday. The collision will cost him four months, and he will undergo surgery on the knee this weekend.

“That was definitely surprising,” manager Luis Rojas said, solemn and down about Martinez’s injury. “I expected it to be something that will take time to have him back on the field, but not as long as four months.”

Martinez couldn’t put pressure on his left leg and was helped into the visitor’s dugout Sunday, as the home dugout was too far. Once inside, he was carted into the clubhouse and into the trainer’s room.

His diagnosis takes him out of competition for a bench role. He served as a solid platoon option, and the team hoped he could come off the bench and play first base, right or left field. But thanks to the depth that was a priority for the Mets’ front office this offseason, the Mets are still covered without Martinez.

At first base, the Mets have two capable starters in Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith. In the outfield, the team added veterans Kevin Pillar, Albert Almora Jr. and Jonathan Villar to provide depth for Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo. Outfield prospect Khalil Lee has also received reps in exhibition games so far.

“We have a lot of depth,” Rojas said. “We still have a lot of depth in camp with guys that are not on the roster that we’re evaluating for maybe a similar situation that Jose Martinez was brought to the team.”

Dreamcometrue: The Mets’ No. 3 overall prospect, third baseman Brett Baty, did not expect to be invited to big-league camp this year. Hefigured there was a chance it would be “a normal spring training,” but once he saw his name included on the Mets’ full spring training roster, Baty knew 2021 would be a huge opportunity for the 21-year-old.

“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Baty said Monday after his 0-for-2 day at the plate as DH in the Mets’ 9-5 loss to the Nationals. “I was thrilled when I got the call.”

Baty, a left-handed hitter, said he sometimes tries to emulate the swings of Freddie Freeman and AdamDunnwhenhe’s not “doing his own thing.” Baty has appeared in all seven games for the Mets this spring training. He’s gone 2-for-9 with a double, two RBI and a run scored.

The third baseman has spent time picking the brains of Alonso and J.D. Davis at Mets camp. The two big leaguers have told Baty to focus on improving the smaller details. He spent the offseason improving his physique, diving into nutrition, working on his strength and conditioning. He’s already seen improved results from those changes.

“It’s been a dream come true to be here at big-league camp,” Baty said.