PORT ST. LUCIE — Jordany Valdespin spent his winter playing the outfield in the Dominican Republic. Now the Mets want to see him concentrate more on second base.
“If I can play both places it’s better for me, a better chance to stay on the team,” Valdespin said yesterday upon reporting to spring training.
Justin Turner and Brandon Hicks are the primary backup infielders in camp, meaning Valdespin would likely have to supplant one of the two to make the Opening Day roster.
Valdespin was a force off the bench last season — he hit five home runs as a pinch-hitter — but said he’s not concentrating on power.
“That’s not my game,” he said. “My game is to steal bases, helping my team. That’s my plan for this year.”
Manager Terry Collins indicated Valdespin can handle the outfield, but is more valuable as a backup infielder. The Mets also want to see him take strides offensively. Valdespin hit .241 with eight homers and 26 RBIs in 191 at-bats last season.
“We’ve got to get him a little more disciplined at the plate to handle some of the off-speed stuff that they started giving him a steady diet of later in the season,” Collins said. “You know he can do it.”
* Collins said he isn’t concerned Jennry Mejia will be behind schedule once the right-hander reports to camp. Mejia remains in the Dominican Republic as Major League Baseball investigators conduct an age and identity check on him before he can be issued a visa.
Though Mejia is expected to start the season at Triple-A Las Vegas, he would be among the Mets’ top options to fill a rotation spot if one of the five starters was injured.
“When he gets here he’s going to be in shape,” Collins said. “He’ll be able to go right into a game, there is no doubt in my mind. So if he misses another week or so it’s not like he’s going to be so far behind.”
Infielder Wilfredo Tovar is the only other invitee who hasn’t reported to camp.
Tonight, the Mets will tonight hold their first bowling night of the spring in an effort to build camaraderie away from the field. Collins instituted the bowling nights in his first season as manager and has watched them grow into anticipated events. … With temperatures expected to dip into the 40s locally this morning, Collins will have pitchers and catchers report to camp three hours later than normal for afternoon workouts. Position players will undergo team physicals today and go through workouts tomorrow.