New York Mets Open MCU Park for Summer Camp

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: The MCU Park baseball field at Coney Island is closed during the coronavirus pandemic on May 04, 2020 in New York City. COVID-19 has spread to most countries around the world, claiming over 252,000 lives with over 3.6 million infections reported. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

The New York Mets have Monday off but made some news by opening up MCU Park in Brooklyn as an alternate summer campsite. The park usually belongs to the Brooklyn Cyclones, but without a minor league season, the field sat empty.

Mets announced they’re opening the MCU Park alternate site today.

They added these seven to the 60-man pool:
RHP Matt Blackham
LHP Stephen Gonsalves
INF Jake Hager
RHP Jordan Humphreys
RHP Franklyn Kilome
C David Rodríguez
LHP Thomas Szapucki

Player pool is at 58 now

— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) July 13, 2020

With the Mets increasing their player pool to 58, the alternate site was a necessity. It also limits the amount of contact between players each day if any Met has tested positive for COVID-19. The Mets have kept results of their tests silent and leave it to the players to announce it if they test positive.

New AdditionsÂ

The Mets officially added five pitchers, Matt Blackham, Stephen Gonsalves, Jordan Humphreys, Franklyn Kilome, and Thomas Szapucki, along with positions players, catcher David Rodriguez and Jake Hager.

All of the pitchers are high upside arms, which were in a spot to contribute in 2020, should the season went as planned. Blackham will become a free agent at the end of the 2020 season and is in the mix for a relief role if the Mets needed an extra arm.

With only two spots left in the 60-man player pool, those spots likely remain empty as the Mets await the status of Brad Brach and Robinson Cano. Also, any injuries or positive tests should force the Mets’ hand to add extra players.