MLB

Juan Lagares looking forward to implementing new swing

Juan Lagares would like to think a visit to the doctor was all he needed.

The swing doctor, that is.

After 10 days of sessions in Southern California this offseason with noted hitting guru Craig Wallenbrock, the Mets outfielder said he is ready to take a new offensive approach into spring training.

“I am trying to hit the ball a little more in the air,” Lagares said from Port St. Lucie, Fla., where he is working out with teammates. “The last couple of years I have hit the ball super hard, but on the ground, so I am just trying to get it a little more in the air.”

It’s an approach that has benefited several players, most notably J.D. Martinez and Justin Turner, who were transformed into home-run hitters by adjusting their launch angle.

But Lagares, who posted a .250/.296/.365 slash line with three homers and 15 RBIs in 94 games last season, said the new approach isn’t about hitting more balls over the fence.

“I don’t think about hitting home runs,” he said. “I just want to hit more for average and I know I can do it, that is why I am working hard this offseason. I am trying to prove that I can do it.”

With Michael Conforto slated to spend at least the first month of the regular season on the disabled list as he rehabs from surgery to repair the posterior capsule in his left shoulder, Lagares will get early opportunities — likely splitting time with Brandon Nimmo — in center field.

Lagares is participating in Mike Barwis’ offseason training program, readying for what he hopes will be a full season. Lagares missed significant action in 2016 and ’17 because of thumb injuries that led to surgery.

“I have gotten hurt a lot the last two seasons,” Lagares said. “Everybody wants an opportunity to play. I’ll just try to do my job and prove to people I can play.”