Ronny Mauricio has already moved to second base at Triple-A Syracuse this season.
Now, the Mets are hoping to add even more dimensions to his game.
General manager Billy Eppler said Friday the 22-year-old has begun working in left field, with the idea of using him at the position at some point this season.
“We’ve seen the amount of impact it can have for rosters to have players that play multiple positions,’’ Eppler said before the Mets’ 3-0 loss to the Blue Jays at Citi Field.
The Mets want to take advantage of Mauricio’s athleticism. Eppler said his potential role is similar to the one Jeff McNeil currently has in Queens.
Mauricio has played second, third and shortstop in the minors. He was at second again on Friday and has an OPS of .929 after a two-hit night.
“We know Ronny can play the left side of the infield,’’ Eppler said. “We know we can put Ronny at second base in a major league game, too. We also want to see how that athleticism can play in the outfield because [according to] the indicators and measurables, he should be able to do it.”
Eppler added Mauricio is looking forward to the move.
“He just wants to do whatever he can do,” Eppler said.
Lefty-hitter Daniel Vogelbach found himself out of the starting lineup against Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt in favor of the righty-hitting Mark Vientos.
“I haven’t been getting hits, and there are a lot of really good players here, and they have to play,’’ Vogelbach said. “I know I’m gonna get back to being the hitter I know I am.”
In his last 14 games, Vogelbach was just 3-for-33 with no extra-base hits, seven walks and 12 strikeouts.
As Vogelbach and Eppler noted, many of the slugger’s peripheral numbers remain good.
His average exit velocity of 91.8 mph is his highest since 2018 and his walk rate of 18.3 percent is the best of his career.
“He’s hitting the ball as hard as he ever has in his career,’’ Eppler said.
On the flip side, Vogelbach’s groundball rate is up and his fly-ball rate is down — not ideal for a power hitter.
“The trajectory aspect, he’s aware of it, he knows and he cares,’’ Eppler said. “I know he’s gonna give all of his effort to getting the profile back to where it was last season.”
That means being a regular in the lineup against righties.
A year ago, Vogelbach had 18 homers and an OPS of .879 versus righties.
So far this season, he has just two home runs and a .715 OPS against right-handers.
“I know at the end of the year where I’m gonna be at,’’ Vogelbach said. “I’ve hit right-handed pitching my whole career. It’s not something you forget how to do overnight.”
In commemoration of Lou Gehrig Day, the Mets were set to honor broadcaster Sarah Langs, who has ALS, before Friday’s game.
Manager Buck Showalter worked with Langs at ESPN and called her “brilliant.”
The Mets also presented a $10,000 grant to Project ALS.
Bartolo Colon, the former AL Cy Young winner who pitched for both the Mets and Yankees during his 21-year major-league career, made his retirement official Friday at age 50.
He last pitched in the big leagues for the Rangers in 2018.
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