PORT ST. LUCIE — For most of the previous seven seasons, there was hardly ever a question about who would be at first base.
For better or worse, Pete Alonso was an everyday presence at first base, solid at scooping balls in the dirt, despite lacking range or a strong arm.
Those days are over and the hole Alonso leaves is clearly felt more in the lineup than in the infield.
Still, until the Mets prove that some combination of Jorge Polanco, Mark Vientos and Brett Baty can handle the position, there will be curiosity regarding the new-look infield.
Saturday was another step in that process, as Baty made his first start of the spring at the spot and the lefty swinger — while not looking like a natural — at least held his own.
“It was a fun challenge out there,’’ said Baty, who’d never appeared in a game at first in the majors or minors prior to Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Washington at Clover Park. “There were no mistakes, but it didn’t look pretty, either. We’ll get better over there, for sure.”
The overall performance, though, was encouraging, according to Baty.
“It gives me confidence [going] into the next game,’’ Baty said.
There was a grounder to the right side by Washington’s James Wood that caused Baty to pause only briefly before he headed quickly to first, as second baseman Marcus Semien made the play easily.
“There are some things you never see in practice till you get out there and do it in a game,’’ Baty said.
Speaking of a play like the Wood one in particular, Baty said he chatted with infield instructor Kai Correa and Carlos Mendoza, as part of the learning process.
“I felt like I wanted to go get the ball,” Baty said. “That’s just how I’ve always been: At third base, go get every ball you can go get. Second base the same thing. Some [balls] I wanted to get and I had to remember Marcus is right behind me and I need to get my butt to first base.”
It’s a play he watched his former teammate make plenty of times.
“I felt Pete was really good at knowing where the second baseman was and his job was just to be at first base,’’ Baty said of Alonso, who departed for Baltimore in the offseason.
Baty’s spring won’t be limited to just learning the nuances of first base. He’ll also see time in the outfield, with Mendoza saying he’d likely be in right field early on, so that Baty remains on the right side of the field.
“I tell people I feel like a football receiver out there,’’ Baty said of the outfield. “I can catch fly balls and show off the arm. I like it out there.”
Mostly, he likes being in the lineup and if all goes according to plan, Baty will see time at first, second and third base, as well as potentially left and right field.
“I love tackling adversity,’’ Baty said of the work that goes into becoming a more versatile player. “Any way to get at-bats … and help the team win.”
There will undoubtedly be bumps in the road for all three first basemen, with Polanco moving from the middle of the infield and Vientos — who is slated to play third base for Team Nicaragua in the WBC — having the most experience at the position, with just 12 major league games.
They have until March 26 to get more comfortable playing the position, with Mendoza noting how many aspects of the game they need to stay on top of at first, from in-between plays, positioning, holding runners and knowing where to be on cutoffs.
The manager remains confident they will prove to be up to the task.
“I feel comfortable that any of the three can play first base,’’ Mendoza said, adding of Baty, “I’d like to continue to get him as many reps as possible. It’s not easy, but he’s embracing the opportunity. He’s up for the challenge.”
