Mets fans have plenty to cheer about this spring

Mets slugger and first baseman Pete Alonso will report to spring training with the rest of the fielders. A former Florida Gator, the Polar Bear entered the majors in the 2019 season, going on to hit a record 53 home runs as a rookie. He was also the first Mets player to hit 50 or more homers in a season. HELENE HAESSLER

Finally, things seem headed back to normal as the New York Mets open camp for spring training in Port St. Lucie. As of this writing, there’s no sign that the pandemic or a Major League Baseball lockout will interfere with this annual rite of spring.

Since the Mets began training here 36 years ago, their appearance has always been the highlight of the year, occurring during the peak tourist season.

While the Mets generate more than $15 million in direct and indirect spending in St. Lucie County, they do more. They bring the far-flung community of Port St. Lucie together to root for a common cause: the residents who commute to Palm Beach, Broward and points south; former New Yorkers who chose Port St. Lucie to retire to because of the Mets; and young working families that chose Port St. Lucie because of its quality of life.

They all come together at Clover Park to see the 16 home games in the Mets’ 30-game schedule.

In Hope Springs Eternal beginning on Page 8, St. Lucie Mets General Manager Traer Van Allen tells writer Joe DeSalvo that ticket sales are up as fans welcome the concept of returning to a normal spring training. “I think the biggest thing, especially for our regular fans, is that they’re going to be able to see this place at 100 percent, full-operational capacity.’’

Full operational capacity would be filling up the park’s 7,160 seats. See you at the ballpark!

Gregory Enns
Reach Gregory Enns or 772.940.9005.

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Feb. 21, 2023