If the New York Mets are comfortable enough with Jorge Polanco at first base despite never playing a full game at the position, why wouldn’t they keep an open mind about others? Their crowded infield has had us all thinking there’d be more subtracting than rearranging.
Mark Vientos is a natural to move to first base although the results haven’t been incredibly promising nor does it sound like the Mets are convinced he can handle the spot. They’ve been hesitant to give Luisangel Acuna regular time in center field even with his speed suggesting he can at least get to the ball. The Brett Baty in left field experiment never made it past the minor leagues.
The last piece remaining is Ronny Mauricio. Although he played a strong third base last year, it might benefit them from sticking with Baty over there a little more regularly. Mauricio is a candidate to start the year in the minors. And if he does, it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to give him a whole lot of time at first base.
If Ronny Mauricio is sticking with the Mets, turning him into an athletic first baseman might not be such a bad idea
A hat tip to WFAN’s Evan Roberts who has mentioned it on his podcast The Rico Brogna and Lock On Mets’ Ryan Finkelstein for the inspiration. Both have mentioned the idea and it’s hard to argue against. The majority of Mauricio’s career has been as a shortstop. Third base is relatively new to him and it has been a little bit mixed.
First base should, in theory, be a position where Mauricio can thrive. If you can play shortstop at even a below-average level, handling the smaller range required at first base shouldn’t have you breaking a sweat. The Mets have never fully committed to putting Mauricio at another position other than shortstop with appearances at second base, third base, and even left field over the years.
Standing at 6 ‘4, Mauricio has the size, even more than Baty who is listed at 6’ 3. He’d be one of the tallest shortstops or third basemen in baseball. On the 2025 Mets, Mauricio was their tallest position player by an inch. There isn’t as much of an advantage in height on that side of the diamond versus first base where the ability to stretch a little further to catch balls thrown your way or reach up can make a difference.
Beyond what the height chart says, Mauricio just matches the same logic behind what the Mets are doing with Polanco. In the name of run prevention, taking a poor defender at other infield positions and making him a first baseman would be the tactic here.
Mauricio is a switch hitter who performed well against righties last year and struggled mightily against left-handed pitching. He sets up well as a platoon player currently with the Mets, maybe holding out hope of him being able to figure things out from the right side of the plate or drop switch hitting altogether.
Mauricio doesn’t need to be the full-time first baseman quite yet. His bat needs to justify it. With Polanco as a possible positive influence on him, finding something new to do with Mauricio should be among the early tasks for the Mets, if they don’t trade him first.