Top prospect Gimenez impresses in first start

Mets want Robles to work on ‘small things’ in minors

PORT ST. LUCIE — Andres Gimenez, widely regarded as the top prospect in the Mets organization, stood in the clubhouse fielding questions through an interpreter, but answering in English. He looked very relaxed, very poised, but at 19, he also looked as if he were ready to bolt for the start of his next Little League game.

“To get to have these young guys come up here for us to get to see them is really fun,” manager Mickey Callaway said.

Making it even more fun was seeing Gimenez stroke two hits, drive in the Mets’ only run and smoothly handle what chances he had at shortstop in a 5-1 Grapefruit League loss to the Cardinals on Friday. It was Gimenez’s first start — he played the whole game — and his fifth appearance of the spring.

“It’s great for me, it’s a dream come true to play with the big leaguers, to play with some of my heroes I was just watching on TV. Right now playing here is big,” said the lefty-hitting Gimenez, whose plate discipline and glove are seen as major pluses in the eyes of those who matter.

The 5-foot-11, 161-pound Gimenez, signed out of Venezuela in 2015, called his high ranking among Mets prospects “special” — almost as special as the chance to play with some of his “heroes,” such as Asdrubal Cabrera, Jose Reyes, Wilmer Flores and Juan Lagares.

Cabrera did not play Friday, but the others did and Gimenez, who down the line could be penciled in at second base next to another shortstop of the future, Amed Rosario, was pumped.

“It’s special,” Gimenez said of his high ranking. “But I know I need to work hard every day for my dream to come true. It’s big for me to be a prospect in the organization, but it’s special for me, too, and I’ve got to keep working.”

Gimenez doubled in a run going the opposite way in the fifth inning against Dakota Hudson, one of the Cardinals’ top pitching prospects.

He pulled a single against lefty Sean Gilmartin, the former Met, in the seventh. He ended the day 2-for-3.

“He showed very good poise. Obviously, very good at-bats,” Callaway said. “He has such a good clock when he’s out there. The game doesn’t speed up on him. He looks like a veteran fielder. The things that stood out to [bench coach] Gary DiSarcina and myself were his ability to stay locked into the game, move around, remember the hitters, be in the right position, always looking in. He’s had some really good instruction. Really nice looking little player. It looks like his defense is going to be solid for a long, long period of time.”

PORT ST. LUCIE — Hansel Robles’ miserable camp with the Mets concluded Friday, with instructions to work on the “small things.”

The beleaguered reliever was optioned to minor league camp after an uninspiring exhibition season in which he posted a 9.26 ERA in eight appearances. Robles was considered a favorite for a bullpen spot when camp began, but was scored upon in five of his eight appearances in the Grapefruit League.

“He’s got good stuff,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “But you have got to be able to do the small things that separates yourself from everyone else and if you can’t do that, stuff doesn’t mean anything if you are not taking care of your business: You are throwing it right, making sure you are consistent in your delivery. We just didn’t see that.”

Robles went 7-5 with a 4.92 ERA in 46 outings for the Mets last season.

“It’s difficult,” Callaway said when asked about delivering the news to Robles.

“It was kind of a shock to him, but he knows he needs to work on some of the small things. I don’t know how much he valued it in the past and we just told him, ‘You can go down there and strike out 25 people in a row, but if those things we need you to work on at the big league level aren’t taken care of, then we are probably going to pass you by.’ ”

Team brass is still deciding whether to carry seven or eight relievers to begin the season. The locks to this point are Jeurys Familia, AJ Ramos, Anthony Swarzak and Jerry Blevins. In strong position for spots are Paul Sewald, Jacob Rhame and Robert Gsellman. Callaway expects to have clarity by Saturday on his pitching rotation heading into the season. Jason Vargas, who underwent sur- gery earlier in the week to remove the hamate bone in his right (nonthrowing) hand, has been throwing and is scheduled for a bullpen session, but remains likely to begin the season on the disabled list. Vargas’ fate affects Zack

Wheeler and Seth Lugo, the latter of whom is the favorite to move into Vargas’ spot in the rotation. Wheeler struggled in his past two exhibition starts and could be facing a demotion to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the season if he isn’t placed in the bullpen. Vargas was at the emergency room Friday, according to Callaway, with a stomach virus.

Noah Syndergaard is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game Saturday as his final tuneup before Opening Day. The Mets will keep Syndergaard from facing the Cardinals in the scheduled exhibition because they open against St. Louis.