3 players who could wear many hats in their 2023 role with the team

3) NY Mets prospect Brett Baty is a top option to start at a couple of positions

It will be interesting to see exactly where Brett Baty fits into the 2023 plans for the Mets. It doesn’t seem like he’ll start for them right away. However, regular appearances in Buck Showalter’s starting lineup isn’t out of the question. Because he has worked as a left fielder in addition to being a third baseman, seeing action at both spots and the DH is a strong possibility.

Baty’s first mission is to make the Opening Day roster. A far more versatile player than Darin Ruf, Baty could be someone we see split time at third base with Eduardo Escobar and left field with Mark Canha. It wouldn’t be a strict platoon in any form. If either struggles, we could expect Baty to start seeing his name on the lineup card more regularly.

Baty’s hats are much different from the ones Mendick will wear. Mendick is a bench player the team could carry even with no plans of starting him any more than they would someone like Luis Guillorme. Baty, on the other hand, doesn’t belong on the MLB roster unless he’s going to be an option to play every game. This doesn’t necessarily mean starting. He should keep warm for pinch-hitting opportunities late.

The Mets will eventually decide exactly where Baty fits into their plans, whether it is at third base or in left field. For this season, he won’t settle with just one kind of hat. We’re just eager to see him wear a mortar board at some point, signaling his official graduation from prospect to MLB regular.