Cano reminisces about Ichiro's amazing career

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Engaged in conversation at a breakfast table Thursday morning, Robinson Canó suddenly grew quiet, locking his eyes on a television screen above him. Cano watched as his former teammate, Ichiro Suzuki, grounded out in the final plate appearance of his career.

Later that morning, Cano -- who has played alongside Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera and others -- did not hesitate when asked about Suzuki’s status as an all-time great.

“What he accomplished -- he got to the big leagues at the age of [27] and was able to get 3,000 [hits],” Cano said. “Guys who get here at the age of 19 or 20 sometimes don’t even get close to 3,000. That’s amazing. That’s a great career.”

All told, Suzuki finished his career with 3,089 big league hits, the most among active players. Cano is fourth, with 2,470.

The two played together from 2012-13 with the Yankees, then again last season in Seattle. They also appeared together on the 2006 and 2010 American League All-Star teams.

“I learned a lot,” Cano said. “He’s focused. He’s so consistent in what he’s doing. His preparation -- that’s amazing. I’ve never seen anyone before like that. I got a chance to talk to him a lot while I was there. It’s amazing how he goes about his business, even at his age.”

Suzuki, who announced his retirement after Thursday’s Mariners-A’s game in Japan, played until age 45. It’s a number that the 36-year-old Cano, one of Major League Baseball’s oldest starting position players, can hardly fathom. The Mets are counting on Cano to remain productive into his late 30s, a feat Suzuki achieved due to his talent, discipline and routine.

“It’s always sad, but we’re all going to get to an end and a day when you’re going to have to retire,” Cano said. “But it’s amazing to see a guy who played until he was 45. Not only that, his preparation, concentration, he does everything the same from Day 1 of his career until the end. It’s amazing. Other guys take it for granted -- oh I’m 40, I’m going to relax, take it slow. He’s always the same.”

No opening
The Mets have ruled out infielders Todd Frazier (strained left oblique) and Jed Lowrie (sprained left knee capsule) for Opening Day. Neither has run full-speed since suffering their injuries in February, making a return in a week’s time all but impossible.

“I just don’t see it,” manager Mickey Callaway said.

With those two sidelined, Jeff McNeil will likely be the Mets’ Opening Day starter at third base. Either Pete Alonso or Dominic Smith will start at first. The injuries also guarantee that one of Adeiny Hechavarria or Luis Guillorme will make the team, while also increasing J.D. Davis’ chances.

Twice as nice
As recently as March 5, Brandon Nimmo was batting .083 in Grapefruit League play, the illness he suffered in February contributing to a slow start at the plate. He’s since hit .367 with as many extra-base hits (four) as strikeouts, including two home runs in the Mets’ 6-0 win over the Marlins on Thursday. Nimmo is slated to bat leadoff for the Mets on Opening Day.

“I definitely feel a whole lot better about it now than at the beginning of spring,” Nimmo said. “But there’s always going to be things to work on.”

Catching up
Travis d’Arnaud caught the final three innings of Thursday’s game, and is scheduled to appear behind the plate on Friday as well, marking his first back-to-back action since undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last April. That is one of the two hurdles d’Arnaud had yet to clear; the other is catching a full, nine-inning game, which he will attempt to do either Sunday or Monday.

While d’Arnaud remains on schedule, Mets staffers are at least considering having him begin the year on the injured list. That would open a roster spot for Devin Mesoraco, who otherwise might break camp with Triple-A Syracuse.

“The one thing we’re always keeping in the back of our minds is this kid hasn’t swung the bat in real games in a year either,” Callaway said of d’Arnaud. “So it’s not just the catching that we’re worried about. We want this guy to be the best player he can be when the Major League season comes around.”

News and notes
Steven Matz and Jason Vargas will stay behind in Port St. Lucie when camp ends to make their final spring tune-ups in Minor League games. They are scheduled to start Games 4 and 5 of the regular season … McNeil departed Thursday’s game after three innings due to illness.

Up next
The Mets will play their final split-squad games of the month as part of a two-city doubleheader on Friday. Bullpen candidate Hector Santiago will start the day game against the Cardinals at First Data Field at 1:10 p.m. ET, followed by Vargas in the night game against the Astros in West Palm Beach at 6:10 p.m. ET.