NEW YORK — When J.D. Martinez reached first base after hitting a single in his first at-bat with the New York Mets, he received a loud ovation. Later, in the sixth inning, Martinez recorded his first RBI with a long, hard-hit double to right field. Martinez’s season debut included the kind of production worth waiting for.
However, it wasn’t enough on Friday. Despite Martinez going 2-for-4 while batting fifth and starting at designated hitter, the Mets lost to the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-2, at Citi Field. For New York (13-12), the game served as a reminder that while Martinez will surely help, the Mets still need more production from key regulars such as Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil. The Mets went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, with Pete Alonso (0-for-4) going hitless in two such instances while batting in front of Martinez.
The Mets signed Martinez late in spring training and his arrival was further delayed by a back issue. As he tried to get enough at-bats to be ready to join the Mets, he experienced a recurrence of the lower back tightness he has dealt with since 2019. Martinez said he’s confident the cortisone shot he received will alleviate the issue and that his body feels good.
“Just trying to go up there and be competitive, put the ball forward,” Martinez said after the game. “I did it twice. The other ones I didn’t put it forward. It happens. To me it’s just getting my bearings and getting my routine again.”
Even at 36, Martinez remains one of the game’s better hitters. With the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, he hit 33 home runs with a .893 OPS. His presence lengthens what should be a solid lineup.

J.D. Martinez hits an RBI double in the sixth inning in his Mets debut. (Vincent Carchietta / USA Today)
“There are good hitters in this lineup,’’ Martinez said. “They struggled early and got things going later. These are all really good players. Lindor is not gonna hit what he’s hitting. Nimmo isn’t gonna hit what he’s hitting. It’s the law of averages.”
Beyond the length, production and protection Martinez offers the Mets’ lineup, his arrival impacts a few other players in a host of ways. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he’d be mindful of giving Martinez rest days, but he didn’t share any strict rules and Martinez will assume the full-time DH spot. Here’s a breakdown of what adding Martinez to the roster means regarding playing time for a handful of Mets.
Starling Marte: If Marte wasn’t off to such a promising start, the Mets’ lineup would probably feature Francisco Lindor batting second, followed by Pete Alonso and Martinez. But Marte reclaimed his spot as the Mets’ No. 2 hitter (which is where he batted in 2022) and continues to hit and steal bases. So, Martinez batted fifth on Friday night in an order that appears like it will be Mendoza’s go-to at least for the time being. For 15 straight games, Mendoza’s lineup has started thusly: Brandon Nimmo, Marte, Lindor, Alonso. That should continue. Marte has made five starts at DH (he went 5-for-20 with one home run in those games), but may not keep up that pace with Martinez around. The Mets will need steadier defense from him in right field.
Tyrone Taylor: Taylor has already eclipsed his high mark for plate appearances for the first month of the season. With no injuries to the Mets’ outfield, Taylor has earned his playing time with two home runs and a .869 OPS in 54 plate appearances. The right-handed batter may still draw some starts against lefties. His defense and speed enhance his value, too; he can come off the bench and see at-bats as a pinch hitter. A few of Taylor’s starts have occurred with Marte moving to DH, but Martinez’s arrival will decrease those occurrences. Still, Harrison Bader has started 20 of the 25 games in center field — will that ratio continue? If not, that would lead to some opportunities for Taylor.
DJ Stewart: In 2024, Stewart has logged just two innings at a defensive position (both in right field). That may change, though opportunities will remain hard to come by. Mendoza said he would be comfortable playing Stewart in the corner outfield spots and at first base (if Pete Alonso, who plays every day, receives a rare game off). Stewart performed well as the Mets’ placeholder at DH with a .816 OPS and three home runs in 55 plate appearances. He will likely still receive an occasional start at designated hitter, but may see most of his time as a left-handed pinch hitter. That could prove to be useful because with Francisco Alvarez sidelined, the Mets may be more inclined to pinch hit for their catchers. When the Mets have wanted to run out their most left-handed lineup, they’ve shifted Jeff McNeil to left field with Joey Wendle playing second base. Moving forward, they could slot Stewart into the outfield on those days instead of moving McNeil from second base.
Brett Baty: Baty’s playing time shouldn’t be impacted by Martinez’s arrival. After all, the Mets designated infielder Zack Short for assignment to make room for Martinez on the active roster. But perhaps Martinez’s presence can alleviate some pressure. Mendoza moved Baty up in the batting order after a hot start and because the Mets needed more production from the middle. It was the right move at the time, but that was always going to be asking a lot for a player who has yet to solidify himself. Over his past 10 games, Baty has gone 6-for-30 (.200 batting average) with one extra-base hit (a double). In 53 plate appearances batting fifth, he had a .592 OPS. The Mets don’t need him there anymore. On Friday night against right-hander Miles Mikolas, the left-handed batter was dropped to eighth.
(Photo of J.D. Martinez: Vincent Carchietta / USA Today)