Brandon Nimmo, the Mets outfielder, has expressed readiness to transition to left field for the upcoming 2024 season, following the team’s acquisition of center fielder Harrison Bader in the offseason. However, this might not be the only change on the horizon for Nimmo.
Nimmo is open to the idea of relinquishing his leadoff spot in the batting lineup, a topic that the Mets management has discussed with him both before and during spring training.
“I’m completely open to a change. I’m not fixated on being the leadoff hitter,” Nimmo informed Newsday’s Tim Healey. “Last year, we didn’t meet our expectations, and I’m willing to shake things up to achieve different results.”
Having played 760 games over eight seasons in the majors, with 520 of them as the leadoff hitter, Nimmo boasts a .365 on-base percentage when leading off and a .380 OBP throughout his career.
The former first-round pick in 2011 emphasized the importance of versatility in playing both left field and center field this season, stating his willingness to adapt for the team’s success.
He reaffirmed this mindset regarding the potential change in batting position, highlighting the benefits of flexibility in the lineup alongside Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor. In the 2023 season, Nimmo frequently batted leadoff while Lindor occupied the third spot and Alonso cleaned up.
“If it benefits the team and enhances our strategy with Pete and Lindor, I’m fully supportive,” Nimmo expressed to Newsday.
Jeremy Barnes, the hitting coach, lauded Nimmo’s skills, expressing confidence that regardless of his batting order, Nimmo’s contributions will yield positive outcomes for the team.
“It’s great to have that flexibility,” Barnes remarked. “Nimmo possesses a unique skill set—he excels at getting on base, walks above the league average, exhibits minimal swing-and-miss tendencies, and has been increasing his power output. If he maintains these qualities, whether he’s hitting leadoff or elsewhere in the lineup, it will undoubtedly benefit the team.”
Nimmo kicked off his spring campaign on March 3 as the leadoff hitter and is slated to maintain that role in the upcoming game against the St. Louis Cardinals. However, the team might experiment with lineup adjustments during spring training to assess their effectiveness.
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