Carlos Mendoza is impressed with Bo Bichette at third base

When Bo Bichette signed a lucrative short-term deal with the New York Mets, the first question the baseball world asked was about his ability to play third base, considering his mediocre defensive statistics at shortstop.

However, the Mets firmly believe that Bichette's athleticism will allow him to make a smooth transition to the hot corner. In fact, manager Carlos Mendoza had the opportunity this week to watch his new protégé practice at third base in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and he was already impressed.

In an interview with The Show podcast for the New York Post, Mendoza said that Bichette looked so comfortable defensively at third base that it seemed as if he had already played the position.

Carlos Mendoza's first look at Bo Bichette playing third a positive sign for remade Mets https://t.co/F5eje66bAB pic.twitter.com/gRVUzZLkj6

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) January 27, 2026

Obviously, the manager isn't going to say otherwise, but still.

The Mets must also be impressed that Bichette is already in camp three weeks before position players report to their clubs, which should greatly aid his progress.

The addition of Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Jorge Polanco to a lineup that already included Francisco Lindor means that the Mets will field four former shortstops in the infield in 2026. Semien remains an excellent defensive player at second base, but question marks abound when it comes to Bichette and Polanco, despite what the New York skipper has said.

While Bichette's bat is the real reason for his presence in Queens, his glove could make the signing even better if he adapts to his new position. Speaking of offense, Mendoza said he sees him batting third in the lineup, just behind Lindor and Juan Soto.

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