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The New York Mets kicked off their 2025 spring training campaign with a convincing 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday afternoon at Clover Park. The game offered fans their first glimpse of the new roster in action, and there were plenty of exciting moments to take note of.
Juan Soto steals the show with early power
It didn’t take long for Juan Soto to make his presence felt in a Mets uniform. The superstar outfielder received a warm ovation as he took the field for the first time in the top of the first inning.
The cheers only grew louder when Soto stepped into the batter’s box in the bottom of the inning, and he responded by launching an opposite-field solo home run on just the fourth pitch he saw from Astros pitcher Colton Gordon.
Soto’s power was on full display as he took advantage of a fastball from Gordon. After missing on a 2-0 fastball, the slugger crushed the next offering for his first hit as a Met. In his second at-bat, Soto came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out, but grounded into a fielder's choice.
Despite the early game-ending at-bat, his performance certainly set the tone for what’s to come in the spring.
Lindor and Alonso make solid starts
Carlos Mendoza, the Mets’ new manager, had the luxury of filling out a potent top of the order, with Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso hitting in the first three spots. Lindor’s spring debut saw him play three innings, during which he popped out to former Met Zack Short before driving in a run with a fielder's choice in the second inning with the bases loaded.
Alonso also played three innings, reaching base once by drawing a walk after winning a challenge with the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system.
Clay Holmes dominates on the mound
One of the most intriguing storylines for the Mets this spring is the transition of Clay Holmes to the starting rotation. The right-hander got his first opportunity to impress, and he did not disappoint. Holmes threw three perfect innings, striking out three while inducing four groundouts on just 34 pitches. His fastballs and breaking balls were effective, and each of his strikeouts was confirmed by the ABS system following Houston’s challenges.
Top catching prospect Francisco Alvarez started behind the plate for three innings, finishing the day 1-for-3 with an RBI single. His backup, Luis Torrens, played as the designated hitter and was on base twice with a pair of singles. Kevin Parada, the Mets’ other promising catching prospect, entered late in the game but struck out in both of his at-bats.
Justin Hagenman and Austin Warren both threw scoreless innings of relief, further solidifying the Mets’ pitching depth.
The Mets are back in action on Sunday with a split-squad doubleheader. Max Kranick will take the mound against the Marlins at 1:10 p.m. at home, while Ty Adcock heads to West Palm Beach to face the Nationals.
