PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Roll back the tape to the second half of last season, and you’ll see Dominic Smith finish most swings a smidge awkward, both hands glued to the bat. This wasn’t a planned adjustment nor stylish departure for Smith, who, up to that point, routinely utilized a one-handed finish. It was evidence of an injury that -- unlike his nagging wrist and groin issues -- remained undisclosed until now.

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Smith played much of 2021 with a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder, he revealed to Sports Illustrated and then confirmed Friday. The issue did not require offseason surgery, and Smith said he currently is playing pain free. But it almost certainly contributed to his slide in production last summer, when Smith slumped to a .244/.304/.363 slash line and lost playing time down the stretch.

“It's something that I don't make excuses about. I don't like to put it out in the public, but it's good that I'm healthy now,” Smith said. “I'm glad I'm healthy. [Playing through serious injury] is probably something I won’t do in the future, because I wasn't able to play well through it. But I'm just happy that I'm here. I'm happy the Mets value me, and I can't wait to get out there and play.”

Asked how he’d prefer Smith to handle a similar situation this season, Mets manager Buck Showalter said “differently,” before commending the first baseman’s toughness and resiliency.

“He didn’t use it as an excuse,” Showalter said. “That gives you everything you need to know about him.”

Smith is finishing one-handed again this spring and is already turning heads, homering twice off Max Scherzer in a simulated game as he competes for playing time despite no clear path to regular at-bats. With Pete Alonso at first base, three everyday outfielders and Robinson Cano the Mets’ likely designated hitter, Smith profiles as a talented bench piece. But he looked like an elite hitter as recently as 2020, when he slashed .316/.377/.616 with 10 home runs in 50 games.

Lindor love
Francisco Lindor provided the sizable crowd at Clover Park for the team’s intrasquad game Friday with an early highlight, pulling a two-run homer off right-hander R.J. Alvarez in his second at-bat. Left-handed prospect Thomas Szapucki’s two scoreless innings were also notable from the scrimmage, which served as a final tune-up for the Mets’ spring opener.

New York opens its Grapefruit League schedule Saturday at the Nationals in West Palm Beach.

“We play for the fans,” Lindor said. “We want to put on a good show. At the end of the day, we’re performers. We want to perform well for the fans.”

Roster trimming
The Mets’ first cut Friday consisted of a single player. Right-hander Jordan Yamamoto was reassigned to Minor League camp.

Acquired from the Marlins last spring, Yamamoto looked like a depth option before missing most of the year because of shoulder issues. The 25-year-old’s first year in the organization was limited to 13 appearances (11 starts) -- only two (one start) in the big leagues.

“We need to get him stretched out,” Showalter said.

Cookie sighting
How heavily the Mets lean on their rotation depth will depend on the health of Carlos Carrasco, who doesn’t appear too far behind the club’s other starters despite undergoing shoulder surgery in October. Carrasco threw about 30 pitches in completing two simulated innings Friday on a back field, hinting at the possibility the Mets could open the season with their rotation fully whole.

“It’s really encouraging to see Carlos making progress,” said Showalter, who stopped short of predicting Carrasco would be ready for Opening Day. “He has the potential to get there, if not, shortly thereafter.”

Carrasco, who turns 35 on Monday, endured a disjointed first year in Queens, pitching to a 6.04 ERA while limited to 12 starts by hamstring and elbow issues.

Who’s on third?
Unless the Mets trade from their infield depth, one of the challenges for Showalter will be what looks like a positional logjam at the corners. He provided some clarity Friday, confirming free-agent pickup Eduardo Escobar, who has experience playing all over the diamond, is working strictly as a third baseman this spring. That should give Showalter the freedom to pencil Jeff McNeil in at second and Cano at DH most nights, with Escobar and McNeil’s versatility allowing him to mix and match.

J.D. Davis and Smith, both talented bats, appear blocked defensively. The left-handed-hitting Smith could glean at-bats from Alonso at first base, and should benefit from superior defensive skills at the position. But Escobar is a switch-hitter, making a platoon with the right-handed-hitting Davis at third unlikely. Davis can play outfield in a pinch, but so can Escobar, McNeil and Smith.

Barring an injury, that leaves Davis’ best path to at-bats at DH against left-handed pitching or as a pinch-hitter. Those opportunities will be limited in 2022 without the pitcher’s spot in the lineup.

“JD is going to get a chance to contribute to our club,” Showalter said. “In what capacity? That’s going to present itself in different situations. Also with the DH, there will be at-bats for him.”