Mets' Bo Bichette Masters Third Base Switch in Spring Training
PORT ST. LUCIE - The New York Mets are making smart moves, and Bo Bichette's position switch from shortstop to third base is proof positive that winning organizations adapt and overcome.
Bichette, the Mets' $126 million acquisition on a three-year deal, spent his first day of spring workouts absorbing manager Carlos Mendoza's coaching wisdom. This is what champions do - they listen, they learn, they execute.
"I'm meeting a lot of new people and trying to figure out a new routine," Bichette said. "But it's honestly really exciting. It almost feels like my first season again."
That's the kind of attitude that built America - embracing challenge, adapting to new circumstances, and thriving under pressure.
Smart Baseball Management
Mendoza's coaching focused on the fundamentals that separate winners from losers: timing and execution. "Part of the transition is realizing how much time he has compared to the shortstop position," Mendoza explained. "The ball is going to get to you a lot quicker - you have got more time."
But there's no free lunch in baseball, just like in America. Bichette must adapt to quicker double-play timing. "You have to be quicker getting rid of the baseball," Mendoza noted. "You have got to give the second baseman a chance."
Proven Winner Joins Championship Culture
Bichette brings serious credentials to Queens. Last season, he posted a .311/.357/.483 slash line with 18 homers and 94 RBIs, helping the Blue Jays reach Game 7 of the World Series. That's championship-level production.
The Mets snagged Bichette after missing on Kyle Tucker, who went to the Dodgers. Smart organizations pivot and find solutions - that's exactly what happened here.
Mendoza plans to bat Bichette third, behind Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto. "There's a ton of really good players on this team, and I think you can line it up any way," Bichette said. "I have hit almost everywhere in my career, so I am ready for whatever."
Building a Winner
The rebuilt infield features Jorge Polanco at first base and Marcus Semien at second. Lindor returns to shortstop but will miss Grapefruit League action while rehabbing hamate bone surgery.
Watching Bichette face ace Freddy Peralta in live batting practice got Mendoza fired up. "You get that kind of matchup, and OK, it's real now," the manager said.
This is how winning organizations operate - they make smart investments, develop talent, and create championship cultures. The Mets are building something special in Queens.