4 biggest Mets Spring Training winners

The New York Mets have had a hectic Spring Training. The relief has suffered significant losses and depth with the loss of Edwin Diaz, Sam Coonrod, and Bryce Montes de Oca. Brandon Nimmo recently found himself in questionable status to start the year with the team due to a knee injury.

The team has had bright spots with the good performances of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer on the mound and some starters. Of all these positive points, four names have made the most of the preseason and have been the biggest winners of this Spring Training.

1) Mets prospect Brett Baty is quickly making fans forget Carlos Correa

Brett Baty entered the offseason with a mission to work his defense and cut ground hits to compete for the Mets' third base position. However, the Mets' interest in signing Carlos Correa blocked any immediate opportunity for Baty to fill the position.

As soon as Correa's deal fell apart for well-known health reasons, Baty began his task. Among the qualified players this spring training, Baty is the leader in AVG, OBP, and fourth in OPS in the entire MLB.

Additionally, he has connected the ball hard. Per Statcast, his average exit velocity sits around 93.5 mph, better than Pete Alonso's and fourth among the team's qualified players.

From the other side of the ball, Baty has made it clear that his effort pays off. Since he started working with Troy Tulowitzki in the winter, his defense has improved making routine plays and plays he couldn't make before.

Brett Baty went from a non-position player and possible trade chip candidate to a potential player with playing time in the middle of the year, to be on the verge of earning the job as the Mets' Opening Day third baseman. The 2023 Spring Training has been the best scenario for Baty to show what he is made of and why he is that great top prospect that scouts consider.

3) Mets reliever John Curtiss has impressed us all this Spring Training

In a surprise move, the New York Mets signed John Curtiss to a major league contract in April 2022 while he was injured with a torn ulnar collateral ligament while with the Milwaukee Brewers. Before his injury, and being traded to Milwaukee in 2021, Curtiss had pitched very well with the Miami Marlins where in 35 games he had earned a 2.48 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched.

Throughout the entire half of 2021 and the full year of 2022, the former Marlins pitcher was rehabbing his injury returning to the mound this Spring Training 2023. Curtiss entered the preseason as a candidate to fight for one of the bullpen positions for opening day.

There was no assurance that this pitcher would make the team despite not having a minor league option due to the uncertainty surrounding his recovery. But John Curtiss has shown results this preseason that has surprised many and keep him as a practically safe candidate to start the year with the big team.

In all of his appearances on the mound, Curtiss has dominated an opposition that barely hits him around .150. His control has been spectacularly generating a WHIP under .70 with a K/9 ratio of an impressive 15.00 with a K/BB over 10.00.

With the opportunity in his hands in this Spring Training, John Curtiss has maximized all his appearances. Due to his performance this preseason and the injuries to the Mets' bullpen, Curtiss has become a big winner with one foot on the Mets' opening-day roster.

4) Mets outfielder Tim Locastro keeps playing at full speed for the opening-day roster spot

The Mets signed speedy outfielder Tim Locastro this offseason to a minor league contract. The organization has a depth option in the outfield with Locastro, a player with a top-speed ability on the bases.

During his six years in the big leagues, Locastro hasn't been a significant hitter, amassing a .227 batting average with a .656 OPS. His plus has always been his ability as a baserunner and defenseman in the center field, a rather rare position these days.

During his MLB tenure, Locastro has been within the top 10 of the league in the sprint speed category being number one in 2020 and number two in 2021. This places him as an elite position player in speed and attractive to many teams for these skills.

In this Spring Training, the former Yankees outfielder has shown great skill with the bat, something never seen before. He has posted a thus far batting average above .340, an OBP above .430, and an OPS around .980.

He has managed to hit 35% of his at-bats and is third in the league and the team leader in stolen bases. In addition, he already seems like a member of the Mets having received four hit-by-pitch this Spring Training.

This terrific offensive performance by Locastro opens up a whole discussion about a possible inclusion in the opening day roster of the Mets more now with the status of uncertainty about the health of Brandon Nimmo.

Regardless of the outcome, he has seized every opportunity at bat, responding with good performance and speed that makes him an excellent option for the Mets' bench this 2023 season. From a minor leaguer to a potential roster player from a team in a competition like the Mets, make Tim Locastro a great winner this Spring Training.