3 key takeaways from the first three days of Mets spring training

While all of the team's arms are in camp, there are also a handful of position players getting early work before the whole team descends on Port St. Lucie, Florida, next Monday.

Live batting practice sessions and fielding practice are the schedule mainstays. With those regular sessions, some early impressions have been forged.

Here are three things that have stood out from the Mets' spring training sessions three days into action:

Jonah Tong among early grinders

While Jonah Tong debuted in the middle of a pennant race last season, there are still plenty of elements of preparation that he is going through for the first time in his first major league spring training.

On Friday afternoon, Tong threw a two-inning live batting practice against the likes of Bichette, Polanco, Luis Torrens and Mark Vientos inside the stadium.

For Tong, the early session was about getting the feel for his cutter and slider — two new pitches that he's working with this spring

"I think just continuing to develop the offspeeds," Tong said. 'I know that last year I was really confident with the fastball, changeup, and just making sure I can have the same level of confidence with my other two offerings."

Tong, who threw around 34 pitches Thursday, is one of several Mets starting pitchers who enter camp fairly deep into their bullpen progression. Clay Holmes, who is preparing for the World Baseball Classic, threw three innings of live batting practice.

Tobias Myers is being stretched out as a starter and he tossed two innings and 27 pitches of live batting practice Friday. Nolan McLean, who will join Holmes on Team USA, is also in a similar spot with his workload.

"It’s a good place to be in, but we’ve got to continue to be mindful," Mendoza said. "The communication is going to be super important here, getting the feedback from them and how are they recovering every time they touch the mound."

Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco putting in the work

Carlos Mendoza pulled a stopwatch out of his pocket as he watched Bo Bichette intently on Thursday afternoon.

The Mets manager's counsel following each play further drove home the new timing element of Bichette's transition to third base. Mendoza wants Bichette to know that he has more time than he thinks on throws to first base but also needs to be quick to second base.

"There was times where he thought he was super slow, and I gave him the numbers, and it’s like, ‘Man, that’s crazy,’" Mendoza said. "Same thing when he was doing the double play. It was a very good session today, the tempo."

The Clover Park diamond was marked by the presence of positional neophytes during the afternoon session, with Bichette at third base and Polanco working closely with new third base coach Tim Leiper on footwork and stretching from the first base bag.

"It's not so much taking ground balls — he's got great hands," Mendoza said. "He came up as a middle infielder. It's just learning how to use the bag, using corner to corner, when to come off the base, the throw that takes you toward the baserunner that he has to protect himself. "

The presence of both infielders nearly a full week early has been encouraging for the Mets coaching staff.

Ronny Mauricio with runway at shortstop

There will be plenty of playing time to go around at shortstop for the Mets after Francisco Lindor underwent surgery on his hand on Wednesday and Bichette continues to get comfortable at third base.

One of the prime beneficiaries of that extended action might by Ronny Mauricio. The 24-year-old infielder spent last spring working back slowly from a torn ACL suffered in winter ball in December 2023.

After being called up in early June last season, Mauricio only made 43 starts with the majority at either third or second base. He posted a .663 OPS across 184 plate appearances last season and still has one more minor league option available.

"It’s all about his development. He missed a whole year and now when you talk to him, he’s just happy to be in camp healthy without any restrictions," Mendoza said. "The past couple of years it’s almost like a progression. Last year, we didn’t even see him in camp. Right now, this early, he’s a full go.

"He’s gonna get an opportunity here, he’s gonna get some playing time but when it comes down to making those decisions, that’s going to be a factor."

Mauricio is in the shortstop equation this spring, along with Jackson Cluff, Grae Kessinger, Vidal Brujan and Christian Arroyo.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 3 key takeaways from the first three days of Mets spring training