The Mets did an impressive job of clearing out the single digit numbers over the offseason, whacking players wearing Nos. 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9.
Refilling the void for the moment are mostly fringe role players who we could see at times this year. No. 2, Vidal Brujan, may well be the starting shortstop on opening day and MJ Melendez could be the fifth outfielder.
The intrigue is in who will wind up wearing No. 3 and when. Unassigned at the moment, it’s thought to be a carrot for young outfielder Carson Benge who is facing seemingly little resistance to an assignment in right field. Benge is wearing 93 in camp but he rocked 3 in college at Oklahoma.
Thanks to those filling in the blanks: Mike Tauchman in 50; Ben Rortvedt is 77; and Bryan Hudson is 78. I will add those guys to the list.
Someone just told me there’s a Mets game on TV today. I may be missing it so I will wrap this one up early.
Also Cristian Pache #71.
Beltran’s number 15 is getting retired this summer. I guess we will see Tyrone Taylor with a new number.
Benge officially gets 3. No word on Taylor yet.
I bet Taylor takes #2, since it’s now available. Lovelady needs a new number, too. He is currently sharing #76 with a coach. Maybe he goes back to 58, since McGill is hurt anyway. And if Tauchman comes back, he needs a new number, because he was sharing #50 with a coach, as well.
Lovelady in 55. Taylor still in 15 for now. Tommy Pham was just signed. His 28 is available.