PORT ST. LUCIE — It’s a big year for the Mets‘ player development department. Outfielder Carson Benge could make the Opening Day roster, starting pitcher Nolan McLean is an early candidate for NL Rookie of the Year and several other players are nearly ready for the Major Leagues.

The club’s prospects will soon have a complex fitting of their accomplishments.

The Mets broke ground on a new 55,000 square-foot minor league complex on Wednesday morning. The current minor league clubhouse has been on the club’s Port St. Lucie site for years, and as a result, lacks the amenities and resources that the Major League clubhouse possesses and that other minor league facilities contain. While prospects are able to utilize the club’s state-of-the-art hitting and pitching labs, they’ll have far more tools available for them when the project is completed early next year.

The new complex will feature a 7,000 square-foot weight room with a 1,500 square-foot cardio area, a new locker room, a new training room with 12 treatment tables, a hydrotherapy area with hot and cold plunge pools, a treadmill pool and four extremity tubs, as well as a dining room, a multipurpose room, covered batting cages and pitching tunnels, synthetic turf field and a dedicated recovery space.

The project is fully funded by the Mets, including owners Steve and Alex Cohen.

“This project reflects the commitment of Steve and Alex to investing in this organization at every level,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “This facility underscores our belief in building from within. This is a meaningful step in strengthening our system and ensuring our young players have the resources they need to develop and succeed for years to come.”

Stearns also said the facility will help establish the Mets as the “preeminent player development organization in baseball.”

Longtime radio play-by-play man Howie Rose hosted the ceremony, with Mr. and Mrs. Met on hand to help with the shoveling. Port St. Lucie city officials were also in attendance to celebrate the new facility and the lease extension. The lease contains options that would keep the Mets in Port St. Lucie until 2052.

The team has several top prospects in Major League camp this spring, including their top six, according to MLB Pipeline. The goal for them is to learn how the veterans prepare for their seasons.

“The first thing that we told them is, ‘You’re not too far away from the big leagues,’” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “I think what separates guys at this level is their ability to move on when they face adversity — the mental toughness, the grind at this level. So I think it’s just more like picking their brains, asking questions and being themselves.”

MLBPA FALLOUT

One day after union head Tony Clark’s shocking resignation, names for his replacement were reported in The Athletic. Among them was former Mets infielder Daniel Murphy, a surprising candidate, but nonetheless, a former player who was heavily involved with the MLBPA when he was active.

The sentiment among many players right now is that they need to move on from Clark’s leadership, and move on quickly. With the CBA set to expire Dec. 1, there isn’t much time to name a replacement, and rehashing the past will only hold up progress.

CLINIC OF CHAMPIONS

The Mets hosted their annual clinic for athletes with the Special Olympics of Florida. One of the more popular, well-attended events every spring, 60 athletes from the program visited Clover Park to receive instruction from players in the Major League clubhouse. The team has hosted the event every year since 2015.