Late to party, Dom’s a hit in spring debut
PORT ST. LUCIE — Dominic Smith arrived at First Data Field “somewhere around six o’clock,” on Saturday. The rookie, who had been benched for being tardy on Friday, was back in the lineup Saturday, ready to put the embarrassing incident behind him try to win a spot on the team.
“It felt great, felt great. Happy to be back out there,” Smith said. “It’s something I have been waiting for since last season. It was just fun to get back out there and just play baseball again.”
The previous 24 hours had been a tough wakeup call for the 22-year-old. After showing up late for team meetings on the first day of Grapefruit League games, Smith was scratched from the lineup. Not a great start for a guy who was overweight and not ready when he showed up in the majors last year.
Not only did he have to stand in front of his locker and admit to his screwup in front of the cameras Friday, but he was pulled aside by several veterans to address his mistake. “A bunch of guys pulled me to the side, they want me to eventually be a leader of the team, Smith said. “They told me to work on it and improve. They definitely gave me a bunch of wisdom. Definitely talked to me. We all came to a clear understanding that that stuff can’t happen. Can’t happen going forward.”
Smith was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat, singled in his second and scored twice.
“Dom knew he messed up. We held him accountable for that yesterday. He went out there and played today,” Mickey Callaway said.
NOT SO FAST START
Jay Bruce has a sore left heel. The outfielder will likely be eased into games early next week, Callaway said.
“Maybe Tuesday. What we will probably try to do with him is get him a (designated hitter) spot somewhere and go from there,” Callaway said. “It’s plantar fasciitis or something.” ... Juan Lagares has also not gotten off to a good start.
Expected to play center field to start the season, Juan has missed the first two spring training games with a tight left leg. The outfielder hopes to get an opportunity with Michael Conforto rehabbing his surgically-repaired left shoulder to start the season.
Lagares ran and did all activities during drills on Saturday and said he felt fine. He hopes to be in games early this week.
Yoenis Cespedes will get his first start of the spring in Sunday’s game, Callaway said. Second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera will also start Sunday.
LUGO LETTING LOOSE
Seth Lugo has never been guaranteed a spot on any roster, so the righthander came into camp ready to battle for a position. Saturday, he threw two scoreless innings, striking out one in his first start of the spring.
“I felt good. I was just trying to work on some pitches, get used to throwing in front of a live audience,” Lugo said. “Just trying to get the nerves and cobwebs out.”
Lugo is facing an uphill battle to make the team. The Mets are concerned with the partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and are worried about putting strain on it if they use him out of the bullpen. They would prefer to have him in Triple-A, stretched out in case there is an injury to their rotation.
Lugo said the arm feels strong because of the strengthening and flexibility exercises he did over the winter and as far as he is concerned he is fighting for a spot.
“Well, even when I was over on the minor league side, I always had to fight for a position,” Lugo said. “It’s nothing new. Same as every year, go in get my work done, work on what I need to work on and see what happens.”
NOAH GOES MONDAY
Noah Syndergaard will make his spring debut Monday against the Astros in West Palm Beach, followed by Steven Matz on Tuesday . .... There were cigars on the chairs in front of all the lockers Saturday morning, handed out by proud father Jacob de Grom. He returned from his home where he and wife Stacey welcomed their second child, daughter Aniston Grace, on Wednesday. … GM Sandy Alderson and special assistant to the GM Omar Minaya left camp Saturday night to fly to California for the memorial service of former Padres GM Kevin Towers . ... The Mets lost to the Braves 10-5 Saturday.