How is the right field competition going so far?
Plus, the Mets got some encouraging pitching performances despite losing to Miami on Friday...
What’s Up with the Mets? 🌴
The Mets lost 2-0 to the Marlins on Friday night (box)
LHP Sean Manaea threw three innings of one-run ball in his first outing of spring, allowing a home run while striking out one and looking strong
Both RHP Craig Kimbrel and RHP Devin Williams each tossed a scoreless inning, combining for three strikeouts with no hits allowed
LHP Bryan Hudson made his spring training debut but was pulled after allowing a run on two hits
C Francisco Alvarez finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a single
OF Luis Robert Jr. crushed a home run in a minor league game on a back field in Port St. Lucie
RHP Freddy Peralta revealed that he’s seeking a seven or eight-year deal (NY Post)
Roster Moves 🗞️
RHP Dylan Ross optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
Injury Updates 🏥
RHP Robert Stock (right shoulder discomfort) is back with the Mets and was set to undergo tests on Friday. He will no longer pitch for Israel in the WBC
Friday, March 6:
Juan Soto played a key role in Team Dominican Republic’s 12-3 win over Nicaragua in their WBC opener, going 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. Soto also committed an error in the outfield that allowed Nicaragua to score a run
In that same game, Huascar Brazobán pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief for DR
Mark Vientos finished 0-for-4 at the plate for Nicaragua, but he did make a nice play at third base to rob Fernando Tatis Jr. of a hit
Alex Carrillo gave up a game-tying home to Great Britain, but did strike out one across 0.2 innings in Mexico’s 8-2 win
José Ramos went 1-for-3 with a double in Panama’s 3-1 loss to Cuba
Schedule | Standings | Scores
What I’m Reading 📰
New Mets pitching coach Justin Willard is focusing on nasty stuff (NY Post)
How an invite to Team USA became an invite American players couldn’t turn down (The Athletic)
Mets bench coach Kai Correa plans to overhaul the defense one drill at a time (The Athletic)
Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
In the latest episode of The Just Mets Podcast, Rich and Andrew react to six big spring training headlines and share an exciting update about the future of the podcast.
SUBSCRIBE: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Today’s Game 🏝️
Match-up: Mets (5-5) at Cardinals (8-4)
Where: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium - Jupiter, FL
Starters: RHP Kodai Senga (0-0) vs. RHP Kyle Leahy (1-1, 9.64 ERA)
When: 1:05 PM EDT
Where to Watch: MLB TV
Where the competition could stand in right field for the Mets ✍️
Opening Day is just 18 days away, and the battle to win the right field job is really getting interesting.
Heading into spring training, there were only a handful of jobs open, with the vacancy out in right arguably the biggest and most interesting development to watch.
It has certainly turned out that way so far.
There are currently as many as five players duking it out for just one spot, and with the start of the 2026 season edging ever closer, now is probably a good time to take a look at where the competition for the right field job stands right now.
If we had to pick a leader in the clubhouse as of right now, Carson Benge would probably be that guy. The prospect is highly thought of by the front office, and we’ve seen exactly why so far this spring. Benge has a three-hit game to his name, he hit an opposite-field home run the other day, and he’s made a habit of coming up with hits down in counts. He’s put together a series of impressive at-bats, displaying an ability to grind the opposing pitcher down and stay in the fight. His plate discipline has been noteworthy, as has some of the loud contact he’s made. Furthermore, Benge has also looked solid out in right field, showing off his plus-arm and not looking out of place defensively.
Now, granted, there is a lot of Grapefruit League action still to be played, and there is a chance Benge could struggle and play himself out of the competition. But, as of right now, he’s doing everything right in his mission to make the team. And that’s all you can ask out of a prospect.
If not Benge, then there is a long line of potential options waiting to bang the door down and make the right field job their own. We’ll start with Brett Baty because, while he is part of this gaudy five-man competition, I feel he deserves an asterisk. After all, it has been made clear at this point that Baty will take on the role of a super utility player for the Mets in 2026, so he’ll be able to get plenty of playing time elsewhere. He can just be slotted over in right as and when he’s needed there throughout the course of the season.
Tyrone Taylor is also in the mix given that Luis Robert Jr. will be the team’s everyday starting center fielder. Taylor is an important part of this team given that he’s elite defensively, and he could be used as a right fielder against certain teams for matchup purposes. On the flip side, we know that he’s largely a net-negative at the plate, owning an OPS+ of 70 in 2025. So, at this point, it is probably fair to envision the veteran as more of a valuable bench player who can slide in across the outfield as and when needed, in addition to perhaps coming into certain games late to help shore up and solidify the outfield defense.
Another name to watch is MJ Melendez, who has shown flashes of his ability so far this spring. The former top prospect of the Royals has two home runs, a double, two runs scored, and five RBIs in four Grapefruit League games. There is clearly something there with the 27-year-old, and maybe the Mets think they could be the team to finally tap into all that potential and talent. He’s already shown some pop, and he also offers a lot of versatility given that he can play in both corner outfield spots. Now, the caveat with Melendez is that he will be able to go down to Triple-A without being lost on waivers. With that in mind, I think it is feasible to assume that the outfielder will begin the year in the minors, but could potentially come up and become a decent role player at some point during the year.
Now, this is where it gets interesting.
The other main contender for the right field job as of right now is probably Mike Tauchman, who has some major league experience and pedigree. As Drew Van Burskirk expertly detailed a couple of weeks ago, Tauchman ticks a lot of boxes for the Mets. He consistently makes good decisions at the plate, he has a lot of admirable tangibles, he gets on base a lot, and he fits the profile of what the front office is looking for in terms of adding more tough at-bats and elite contact to the lineup. His career walk rate sits at 12.6%, which is higher than the MLB average, and he also ranks in the top-10 in OBP for leadoff hitters (.361) from 2023-2025. So we’re talking about a wise, grizzled veteran who can fill multiple needs, while also not being an automatic out in the lineup. There is a lot to like there.
Furthermore, Tauchman has shown off a lot of those attributes during spring training so far. He’s hitting .375/.583/.1.000/.1.583 with two doubles, a homer, and three RBIs in five games. Now, the downside with Tauchman is that his range in the outfield has regressed with age, but he should still be a serviceable option defensively in right field, while his skills at the plate will more than make up for that.
I think it is feasible to suggest that Tauchman is here to stay. He’s a good player who can contribute, he can’t be optioned, and he would absolutely be signed elsewhere if the Mets were to cut him loose. Again, he has a lot to offer. If he continues to have a strong spring, then maybe the right field job will be his to lose.
There are many Mets fans who feel that Benge, as the future of this team, should be named the Opening Day right fielder now. I’m high on Benge myself, but I can also understand the argument that, due to his struggles in Triple-A, coupled with his lack of professional experience, he would be best served to get some more seasoning down in the minors to start the year.
Even so, my gut feeling as of right now is that both Benge and Tauchman will be on the Opening Day roster. I think the front office really likes Benge, and I think they would prefer for him to start the season in the majors as a starter out of the gate. Tauchman would then add another good option on the bench, as well as taking on the role of an invaluable mentor for Benge. If Francisco Lindor is ready for Opening Day, Vidal Brujan would be disposable, thus making it easier to carry both Benge and Tauchman.
Of course, a lot can happen between now and Opening Day, but both Benge and Tauchman should be seen as the leading contenders for the job in right field as of right now.
Around the League 🚩
OF Aaron Judge homered and RHP Logan Webb struckout six over four innings as Team USA beat Brazil, 15-5 in a wild WBC encounter
DH Shohei Ohtani hit another home run during the third inning of Japan’s WBC game with Korea early on Saturday morning
Dodgers RHP Edwin Díaz struck out the side to help seal a 5-0 win for Puerto Rico over Colombia in the WBC
OF Nathan Lukes crushed a grand slam to help the Blue Jays beat the Pirates, 9-2
I prefer Tauchman on the bench vs Vientos. Unfortunately, neither has any options left so it’s up to Stearns to decide which he values more and if it’s Tauchman (for all the reasons mentioned in this article), he’s either got to be comfortable with losing Vientos if he doesn’t clear waivers or find a trade partner who’s willing to buy low and hope his bat comes around. Or, Vientos accepts the demotion to AAA and hopes he can play well enough to increase his value and be an injury replacement or a better trade piece.
Carrying Tauchman and Taylor plus Torrens and Baty leaves Vientos? I also believe Benge will be the right fielder to start the season as the Mets would receive draft pick compensation for that and even better positioning should be win ROY which he will get competition from McClean for. Stearns did this to some success in Milwaukee. You didn’t mention Manaea and his play in his first start of the spring. His velo was down 3 mph. Ok yes it’s spring and guys don’t go full bore but 3 mph? That’s more than I’d like to see at this point in ST. I’m beginning to have serious concern with him especially with he’s still screwing around with his arm slot. He did say he feels great but if he’s lost 1-2 mph on his fastball how will he keep it at the top of the zone where he needs to be to be successful? He will be throwing meatballs from the jump as his only hit allowed was a HR. Not feeling it with him this season ( so far). He griped about the mound at Roger Dean stadium but really? Idk. Senga takes the hill today. Let’s see how he looks.