PORT ST. LUCIE — Starling Marte may not receive many chances to play the outfield this season, but says he is ready for whatever is needed from him.
To that end, the veteran outfielder displayed that readiness on Friday as the starting right fielder in a 3-2 exhibition victory over the Cardinals at Clover Park.
It was the first appearance in the outfield this spring for Marte, who missed extensive action last season with a bone bruise in his right knee.
“[The knee] feels completely different from last year,” Marte said through an interpreter.
On this day, Marte played five innings in right field.
The plan is to give him a longer stint in the field before the Mets break camp Monday.
Though the 36-year-old Marte figures to receive most of his action in a part-time DH role, he would like to play the outfield.
“I like playing in the outfield,” he said. “I would like the opportunity to be in the outfield. Obviously, being the DH gives me more time for my knee to recover and it gives me more time for me to be off my feet. But I am definitely open to playing in the field, whatever the team needs me to do.”
Marte could receive chances in left field — giving occasional rest to Brandon Nimmo — but it’s also a position he hasn’t played since 2020 with the Diamondbacks.
Dedniel Núñez allowed two earned runs over one inning in his second appearance this spring.
Carlos Mendoza said he plans to give Núñez an additional outing before the Mets break camp, but wasn’t sure if he would ask the right-hander to pitch twice over three days, which could be a requirement for adding him to the Opening Day roster
Tylor Megill is scheduled to face the Nationals in the Grapefruit League on Saturday, with Paul Blackburn pitching in a minor league game.
Megill and Griffin Canning are the front-runners for the final two rotation spots, with Blackburn expected to open the season in the bullpen.
