New York Post

Versatile Stewart makes Amazin’s Opening Day roster

- By MARK W. SANCHEZ

The Mets officially made one Opening Day roster decision Wednesday and were expected to spend the afternoon discussing the final expected transactio­n before the season begins.

The Mets informed DJ Stewart he has made the team, manager Carlos Mendoza announced, solidifyin­g the roster spot of the designated hitter/outfielder/perhaps even backup first baseman.

Stewart, who likely will be the Opening Day DH, became a rare bright spot of last year’s club and hit upon being called up, emerging in the final two months of the season and finishing with an .840 OPS.

This spring the 30-year-old was quiet, hitting just .175 in the Grapefruit League, but he walked enough (seven times) to finish with a .340 on-base percentage. The Mets had seen enough to bring him to Citi Field, but there was still a question about whether he would be on the roster or whether the Mets would add externally.

“Lefty bat, power, the way he controls the strike zone,” Mendoza said of Stewart, whose defensive versatilit­y he also credited for making the club. Stewart still can be optioned to the minor leagues, which may happen once J.D. Martinez is ready. There is clarity in the position-player group but still clouds in the bullpen.

The Mets have two spots remaining in the bullpen and brought three contending relievers to Queens. The Mets cannot option Yohan Ramirez, Sean Reid-Foley or Michael Tonkin, all three righties, all three having impressed during the Grapefruit League.

Ramirez allowed two runs in 10 spring innings, Reid-Foley has the best strikeout ability and Tonkin is well-regarded for his length, able to take down a few innings at a time.

➤ Kodai Senga, who had been shut down from throwing since late February, resumed throwing Monday in Port St. Lucie and played catch again Wednesday in the Citi Field outfield.

The Mets’ ace, who was diagnosed with a moderate strain of the posterior capsule in his right shoulder, is on an every-other-day schedule, Mendoza said.

➤ Martinez, who was not officially signed until Saturday, will spend at least the first 10 days of the season getting at-bats elsewhere before becoming an option for the big-league Mets.

The veteran DH is still in Port St. Lucie and will be there “for the next week or so,” Mendoza said.

Martinez is mostly facing minor league Mets, though he got at-bats against Adrian Houser on Tuesday, Mendoza said, because Houser remained there to build up and pitched six innings.

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