Harrison Bader worked this offseason to stay on the field for the Mets until 2024.
PORT STREET LUCIE — Harrison Bader made an impact on his first day with the Mets. It literally had an impact on me. A center fielder fouled a pitch from Michael Tonkin during live batting practice, and the pitch went through a glass window on the top floor of Clover Park during the Mets' first full-team practice on Monday.
“Put that on the tab,” the coach yelled from the dugout.
When healthy, the Mets believe the Bronxville native can have an impact on the team on both sides of the ball. Horace Mann, 29, has consistently been one of the top center fielders in baseball since his breakout season in 2018 with the St. Louis Cardinals. After being traded to the Yankees in 2022, Bader had a big postseason run, batting .333 with five home runs, four walks and a 1.262 OPS.
However, Bader's bat has never been consistent, likely a result of inconsistent playing time due to injuries. Since 2017, Bader has been placed on injured reserve seven times, most recently with the Cincinnati Reds in September. Bader injured his groin and underwent hernia surgery.
“He's been through a lot,” said coach Carlos Mendoza, who coached Bader in the Bronx. “He's been injured the last few years and he's looking forward to getting back to being the player he knows he can be.”
The Mets are counting on Bader to hit .267 with 16 home runs and win a Gold Glove in 2021. His 14 OAAs were the best of his career. But even in 2021, Bader struggled to stay healthy, sidelined by a strained muscle in his right forearm and a hairline fracture in his ribs.
The rib injury was an unusual one caused by being hit by a ball while falling in the outfield, but in consideration of his past history, he changed his offseason training program after the 2023 season.
“Being super healthy is always the goal, but when I was younger it sometimes felt like I was working on everything all day long,” Bader said. “Before I knew the season was coming up, I was almost exhausted because of the workload. I wanted to do everything at once.
“I think having a really fun program that I’m very confident in and believe in and that I’ve been following all offseason will help me stay focused on my goals.”
The Bader deal raises questions about what the Mets will do with Brandon Nimmo. The Mets aren't ready to move Nimmo full-time to left field just yet, but Mendoza confirmed that Bader will be in center field when he's in the lineup. The Mets are paying Bader $10.5 million this season, which is hardly bench money.
If his improved program keeps him healthy, it will be money well spent.
“He's an elite defender and a base runner with the ability to attack the baseball,” Mendoza said. “He had some stretches in the playoffs where he showed a lot of what he brings. This is also a player who can help us win in a variety of ways.”
However, if Bader were to go on the disabled list while with the Mets, the Mets would move Brandon Nimmo back to center field.
Nimmo was in Italy with his wife, Chelsea, when he received a call from President of Baseball Operations David Stearns asking the outfielder's thoughts on moving to left field again. Nimmo has worked hard to improve his center field defense for years. He has been the Mets' starting center fielder since 2021 and has received high praise for his work there.
Nimmo told Stearns he would do whatever was best for the team.
“I told him, 'Honestly, my goal at this point in my career is to win a World Series. So I think it's important to either build a better outfield defense or add those guys to the roster. If I think it's going to give me a chance,' if we can win a World Series, I'll do whatever it takes to do that,'' Nimmo said. “I trust him.”
Stearns focuses on preventing runaways. Vader prevents many of them. With less ground to cover, left field could be a way for Nimmo to stay healthy as well. It may not go as planned, but there's a lot of spring optimism in Port St. Lucie right now, and with Nimmo and Bader both healthy, the Mets are hoping for a chance at both outfield spots. .
“We're putting every ounce of energy we have into trying to have a successful season,” Bader said. “More than anything, I want to win in New York.”
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