ARLINGTON, Texas — As a young infielder in the Giants organization, Carlos Mendoza had the privilege of spending time with one of the iconic players in baseball history.
Mendoza took time to remember Willie Mays on Tuesday after it was announced the Hall of Fame outfielder had died at age 93.
The Mets manager recalled his invite to major league spring training with the Giants in 1998 and interacting with Mays in camp, at the behest of manager Dusty Baker.
“There were a lot of great players in that locker room, but having Willie Mays there and sharing stories and sharing with us as a young player, how to play the game the right way meant a lot,” Mendoza said after the Mets rallied to beat the Rangers 7-6 at Globe Life Field.
Mendoza said he didn’t know much about Mays growing up in Venezuela.
But he came to understand Mays’ greatness upon joining the Giants organization.
Mays spent 1972-73 with the Mets and had his No. 24 retired by the team in 2022.
Kodai Senga is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, after which he will potentially progress to facing hitters this weekend, according to Mendoza.
The right-hander had a setback last month in his rehab from a right shoulder strain and won’t join the Mets’ rotation until after the All-Star break.
Mendoza said he was encouraged by Adam Ottavino’s scoreless two-inning relief stint Monday.
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It was a fourth straight appearance by the veteran right-hander without allowing an earned run, following a rough stretch in May.
“It was good for him to go multiple innings [Monday],” Mendoza said. “The fact he was so [efficient] in the seventh made the decision easy for me to send him out for a second inning, but he’s done it. He’s a guy who has been in this league for a long time and had a pretty good career. He knows at some point you are going to struggle, which he did in May, but as of late he continues to stay on the attack and just finishing hitters.”
Ottavino asked to pitch the ninth inning in the Mets’ 14-2 victory over the Rangers — he would have received a save with a third inning of work — but Mendoza opted for Drew Smith to get the final three outs.
Luis Severino’s start against the Rangers placed him in line for the assignment in the Subway Series opener next Tuesday at Citi Field.
The right-hander will be facing his former organization in that start.