Who is trending up and down for the Mets with two weeks left in spring training?
Spring training stats can sometimes present a deceiving picture of a state of a team.
While teams use the early preparation and game as an opportunity to build up pitchers, and players to begin to feel comfortable at the plate, it can also have a huge bearing on who makes the team and the roles of certain players heading into the regular season.
With two weeks until the conclusion of spring training, the Mets have a handful of players who have stood out among the rest and others who have hurt their stock.
Here are the strong impressions and shortcomings for a handful of Mets players after two weeks of spring training games:
TRENDING UP
Francisco Alvarez
The Mets second-year catcher set the bar high after his rookie season when he hit 25 home runs and drove in 63 runs. Alvarez is hoping to improve his plate discipline and defense as he steps into a starter role.
The early returns this spring have been encouraging, with the 22-year-old going 5-for-19 (.264) with three home runs and five RBI. He's also thrown out five runners on eight steal attempts.
Ji-man Choi
The 32-year-old first baseman has showed off his command of the bat in his shot to try and make the major league club as a left-handed option in the batter's box. The biggest performance came on Saturday when Choi went 3-for-3 with a ground-rule double and RBI.
This spring, Choi is 5-for-14 with a home run, two runs and two RBI.
Tyrone Taylor
Mets fans are beginning to see what Taylor is all about this spring. The outfielder, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Brewers, brings sound defense — he hasn't committed an error in five major-league seasons — to the outfield. He's showcased that range in making plays on all 11 of his chances this spring.
Despite questions of his offense, however, Taylor has ripped six hits in 19 at-bats, drawn a pair of walks, stolen a base and scored twice this spring.
Nate Lavender
While the 24-year-old left-hander has been reassigned to minor league camp, he has made a strong impression in his roughly three weeks with the team. Lavender has thrown three perfect innings across three appearances, striking out seven batters in the process.
Lavender does not overwhelm with power but thrives with deception. After a strong season between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023, Lavender rose to No. 24 in the Mets' prospect rankings and figures to make his MLB debut at some point this season.
Tylor Megill
A shoulder injury to Kodai Senga opened the door for a spot in the Mets' starting rotation, and Megill has stormed through it early this spring. In four appearances this spring, Megill has allowed one earned run on seven hits and two walks in 12 innings (1.50 ERA).
On Monday night, he was tagged with the loss despite giving up just one run on three hits in four innings. Against the Yankees, Megill did not surrender a hit and struck out five in three innings.
Luis Severino
The Mets are hoping that Severino can regain some of his past form to help lead a newly constructed rotation this season. The early returns this spring have been encouraging, with Severino hitting 98 mph on the radar gun and missing bats.
Severino, who is due to make his third start this spring on Tuesday, has thrown five scoreless innings with five strikeouts and three hits allowed.
TRENDING DOWN
Phil Bickford
The Mets brought Bickford on board at last season's trade deadline, but he finds himself competing for a spot in the team's bullpen this spring. The 28-year-old right-hander does not have any minor-league options available, so that would seem to give him a better chance of making the team but the front office loaded the relief pitching ranks this offseason.
Bickford did not have a strong opening outing, allowing three earned runs on four hits in one inning against the Yankees last week. He righted the ship a bit with two strikeouts in ⅔ innings on Monday.
Luke Voit
The former Yankees first basemen entered the discussion as spring camp opened and was eyeing a spot in the designated hitter and backup first base discussion.
Voit, who excelled at Triple-A Syracuse late last season, has not been able to get a foothold this spring. He is 2-for-20 with seven strikeouts, one RBI and two walks so far this spring.
Shintaro Fujinami
As previously noted, the Mets have a log-jam of relief pitchers who are looking to grab one or two final spots in the bullpen. Fujinami, who signed a one-year, $3.35 million deal late this offseason, had a late start this spring due to a personal issue in Japan and visa issues.
Fujinami could not work a full inning on Sunday after being tagged for two runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk after a scoreless frame midweek. Fujinami's available minor-league options leave the potential for him to start the season down below.
DJ Stewart
The Mets saw Stewart's potential down the stretch last season when he homered 10 times during a 17-game stretch, but the outfielder tends to run in hot and cold stretches. It's been a more chilly start to the spring for Stewart, who is 3-for-20 (.150) with five strikeouts and no runs provided.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets: Players trending after two weeks of spring training
