Mets training camp: Ex-Yankees Stephen Tarpley impresses

Observations from the Mets’ first spring training game Monday afternoon:

Major social distance

Many of the Mets’ veterans drove from Port St. Lucie to Jupiter, Rojas said, a standard habit now officially endorsed by Major League Baseball in the interest of preventing a packed bus for COVID reasons.

Aggressive much?

Brandon Nimmo got caught rounding first too far on his leadoff single in the first, and new guy Kevin Pillar easily fell short of going for a fourth-inning double. Manager Luis Rojas said he wants his players running the bases extremely aggressively in the early going, then pulling back.

Caught my eye

Former Yankees left-hander Stephen Tarpley, a Mets offseason waiver claim from the Marlins, threw a 1-2-3 third inning.

Tuesday’s schedule

The Mets open their Grapefruit League home schedule by hosting the Astros at Clover Park.