PORT ST. LUCIE — Dillon Gee can finally respond definitively when friends and teammates congratulate him for his “Opening Day starter” status.
The Mets right-hander received official word on Monday that he will pitch the opener on March 31 against the Nationals at Citi Field. Last week, manager Terry Collins indicated Gee was the likely choice.
“It’s great and it’s a big honor and I’m very glad to get that,” Gee said. “It’s a big step in my career and something to say I did, but my job is to go out there and try to win games, just like it’s any game in September. It doesn’t matter.”
Gee became the choice after it was clear Jon Niese, who has battled various soreness all spring, wouldn’t be stretched out enough to be ready for the opener.
The Mets named Luis Natera assistant hitting coach (a newly created position by the club). Natera spent the last seven years as the hitting coach at Double-A Binghamton. In recent years, more than half the teams in the major leagues have added an assistant hitting coach to share the workload with the hitting coach. Natera will work with Mets hitting coach Dave Hudgens.
Kyle Farnsworth remained in camp and could be re-signed Tuesday. The veteran reliever was released on Sunday, ensuring the Mets wouldn’t have to pay him a $100,000 retainer for a minor-league assignment.