CHICAGO — Amed Rosario is willing to give another position a try.
As the Mets search for further outfield versatility, Rosario recently told Mickey Callaway he is open to helping out in center field if needed, after the manager had broached the subject.
The Mets have Juan Lagares and Carlos Gomez as right-handed bats who can play center field, but they began Sunday hitting .182 and .207, respectively.
Rosario shagged balls in the outfield in recent days and is expected to soon begin more formal workouts.
“He is still our starting shortstop, so it’s nothing imminent, just something we are thinking about and maybe preparing for,” Callaway said before the Mets faced the Cubs on Sunday.
Jeff McNeil, Dominic Smith and J.D. Davis are infielders who have also transitioned to corner outfield positions this season. Rosario said he has never played center field at the professional level.
“I’m a natural shortstop, as I have been my whole life,” Rosario said. “But if it’s something the team needs me to do, I’m willing to do it.”
The Mets’ most recent outfield experiment was shifting McNeil to right, allowing him to play in the same outfield with Smith and Michael Conforto.
“I think diversity is big, and it’s shown up with Davis and it’s shown up with Dom, our players being able to move around as much as possible has made us a better team,” Callaway said. “So we’re not going to rule anything out that may help us be the team we want to be.”