Mets' J.D. Martinez makes team debut against Cardinals
J.D. Martinez #28 of the Mets bats during the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on Friday, April 26, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Carlos Mendoza got just a little bit of a thrill from finally — finally! — penciling in J.D. Martinez’s name into the lineup Friday. But even as he talked about it, the Mets manager continued to temper expectations.
Their newest designated hitter was an excellent addition, Mendoza said, but it would do no good to place all the Mets’ hopes on a player who, at age 36, has already had to overcome a shortened spring training, a balky back, and an accelerated timeline that saw him hit in just three minor-league games before joining the club in Flushing.
“It feels good — I’m not going to lie — writing that lineup and putting his name to paper,” Mendoza said. “At the same time, I don’t think it’s fair to put that pressure on him… It’s one of those things where you just want to make our lineup a lot deeper. We’ve got a lot of good hitters here but having J.D. finally in our lineup obviously is a good thing.”
And still, it was hard to ignore the palpable excitement during batting practice, and the knowledge that Pete Alonso has another power bat protecting him in the lineup.
Martinez, who signed a one-year, $12 million contract late into spring training, is a consistent and legitimate power bat, and a student of the game who is eager to impart his knowledge on the Mets' younger hitters. The six-time All Star slashed .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs in just 113 games last season with the Dodgers.
Friday, he batted fifth behind Alonso — a chance to provide protection to a player that — an injured Francisco Alvarez notwithstanding — hasn’t had too much fire power behind him in the lineup the last few years.
“You look at every great team out there, elite lineup, and they have threats in the middle of the lineup to hold it down,” Martinez said. “It puts thoughts into pitchers’ minds, in the opponents [minds of] attacking guys early and trying to keep guys off base for the heart of the order.”
Martinez won’t play every day, Mendoza said, but conversations on how to best preserve him will be ongoing. He’s dealt with back problems since 2019 but was able to find a regimen that worked with him last year when he played with the Dodgers, and “knock on wood, I’m hoping it works this season too,” Martinez said. It's possible the Mets decide to go two or three days on, then one off, Mendoza said.
“It’s obviously frustrating,” Martinez said about getting hurt after a long purgatory where he remained unsigned until March 23. “I want to be here…Maybe I tried to get back a little bit too quick — tried to rush back and it kind of flared up a little bit and it’s one of those things where, let’s get this thing taken care of now so we can move forward.”
The Mets designated Zach Short for assignment to make room for Martinez on the roster. D.J. Stewart, who’d mostly been performing DH duties, will get opportunities in left, right and first base when the Mets need to spell their starters.
With Francisco Lindor’s bat showing signs of life, and Brandon Nimmo’s peripherals indicating that he’s due to improve, Martinez’s addition rounds out an already respectable lineup. It also take (slightly) lessens the sting of losing an injured Alvarez for an estimated six to eight weeks. The offense entered Friday having slashed .277/.346/.432 in their last 17 games.
“You see signs [of the lineup clicking], especially when you have a game like Lindor had the other day [where he collected four hits and four RBIs]," Mendoza said. “It’s a good lineup and adding a name like J.D., coupled with some of the names I’ve already got on this lineup. It’s deep.”
And though his manager didn’t want to put too much pressure on him, Martinez said he had one prevailing thought when the Mets started the season 0-5. “Try to hurry up.”
Granted, things are a lot better now, but "I want to obviously be a part of it — if they’re struggling and if they’re doing good, I want to be doing good with them,” Martinez said. “It’s part of being a team. Unfortunately, signing so late, I didn’t really get to know the guys and hang out with them but I’m here now and I’m hoping I’ll make an impact.”
He too, though, tempered expectations.
“My swing was one of those things where, it is what it is right now,” he said. “I only got three games in the minor leagues before I was able to come back up, but my body feels good. It’s one of those things where the minor leagues will get your timing [better], but there’s nothing like facing big league pitchers…I’d rather just try to grind it through here and try to help as much as I can and try to get my bearings here.”
Notes & quotes: Tylor Megill (shoulder) will throw two innings as part of his rehab assignment with Single-A Brooklyn Saturday. He’ll continue to build up but is “progressing well,” Mendoza said… Kodai Senga (shoulder) threw a bullpen Thursday and felt good. He’s scheduled to potentially throw live batting practice in Flushing Monday.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
