Mets Drop Spring Opener as Bichette & Semien Make Debuts
Baseball is back. Well sort of.
Spring Training action is underway around Major League Baseball, and the New York Mets took the field for the first time in 2026 on Saturday against an old foe and the team that ended their season in game 162 just a year ago, the Miami Marlins. A few notable names were in the lineup for New York such as Juan Soto and Tyrone Taylor, and Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette made their preseason Mets debuts. Brandon Waddell got the start for the Mets, as the Marlins defeated the Mets 2-1.
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Waddell, Brazobán, Warren Impress
The big aspect of the Mets preseason in 2026 will be the depth in the pitching both in the rotation and in the bullpen. The Mets used an MLB record 46 pitchers in 2025, and they are looking to stabilize that position with consistency in 2026. Waddell saw playing time with New York in 2025 both in starts and out of the bullpen in long relief. He threw to a 3.45 ERA last season in 11 games for the Mets. He pitched the first two perfect innings of Saturday’s spring training opener. Waddell struck out three and accumulated two ground outs in his two innings of work.
Huascar Brazobán started out very strong in 2025 through the first two months, and his changeup was working, but he faded down the stretch and struggled as the season went on as he pitched to a 6.14 ERA from June to September. With the Mets adding names such as Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Tobias Myers, and Luis Garcia, and with A.J. Minter not expected back until May, Brazoban will have to prove himself this year starting in the spring. In his lone inning of work, Brazobán struck out Maximo Acosta and Ryan Ignoffo, both on his changeup and swinging.
Austin Warren pitched the seventh inning and had two strikeouts of his own as he got Daniel Johnson swinging on a sweeper and Matthew Etzel swinging on a sinker.
Bichette, Semien Debut
Two of the newer pieces on the Mets, Bichette and Semien will be asked to bring a lot to the table, both on the field and in the locker room. On the field, Semien replaces Jeff McNeil at second base and Bichette is now playing a new position at third base. In a game with not much offense, both Semien and Bichette went hitless as they both went 0-for-2 in the limited action they saw.
A.J. Ewing Contributes In Spring Opener
One notable Mets prospect that saw game action on Saturday was A.J. Ewing. Ewing, the 5th ranked prospect in the Mets farm system notched an RBI sacrifice fly to put the Mets on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning. In the top of the ninth inning, while playing center field, Ewing threw out Nathan Martorella who was trying to advance to third base after the ball went into center field on the throw by catcher Yonny Hernandez. Ewing will be one of the more interesting players to watch in spring training.
MJ Melendez Gets First Crack In RF
The most watched position competition for the Mets in spring training will be at right field now that Soto will play left field. Carson Benge is the one most eyes will be on as the spring progresses, and New York recently signed Mike Tauchman. For game one of the spring, recent signing MJ Melendez got the start. While he went hitless with a strikeout in his two at-bats, he made two good running catches in foul territory.
Player of the Game: AJ Ewing
A nice showing for Ewing as he notched the Mets first run of the spring and an outfield assist on Saturday.
On Deck:
The Mets will head to Tampa on Sunday to play their crosstown rival New York Yankees. Justin Hagenman is set to start for Mets against Luis Gil. The game will be broadcast on WHSQ 880 AM.
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