PORT ST. LUCIE — Andres Torres is intent on showing the Mets he’s right for the leadoff spot.
“I’m ready,” Torres said yesterday after reporting to spring training. “I’ve been working hard. I’m healthy, and I’m pretty confident. Last year I had a lot of injuries, but this year I feel great.”
Torres posted just a .312 on-base percentage last season for the Giants, but is now expected to be the Mets’ everyday center fielder and leadoff hitter. If Torres doesn’t show enough spark in camp, manager Terry Collins could give the leadoff spot to Daniel Murphy or Ruben Tejada.
The Mets acquired Torres in a December trade that sent Angel Pagan to the Giants. In the deal, the Mets also acquired reliever Ramon Ramirez. Torres is expected to be an upgrade defensively over Pagan, but not offensively.
Torres said he spent much of the offseason hitting in Puerto Rico with Robinson Cano and Carlos Beltran. Though Beltran is a former Mets center fielder, Torres said Beltran didn’t offer him much advice on handling his new situation.
“[Beltran] just said, ‘Do your thing, play relaxed and just have fun,’ ” said Torres, who lived in Paterson, N.J., as an infant, but moved to Puerto Rico with his family when he was 1. “We just talked a little bit about hitting. I’ve played before at [Citi Field] and I’m ready. I’ve been working hard on my speed to cover a lot of ground.”
Torres said the fact the Mets aren’t projected as strong on paper doesn’t bother him.
“You can have the best players, but you have to stay together and there has to be chemistry,” Torres said. “I know we have a great group. We’re going to come here and just play hard every day — keep everybody loose and do our best. That’s how it is.”