PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Entering Friday’s play, Brett Baty was, statistically, one of the Grapefruit League’s hottest players. That was convenient for Baty, considering he’s also one of the only players in Mets camp truly on the roster bubble.

“I just kind of view it like there’s nothing to lose, honestly,” Baty said. “Try to leave it all out there, you know?”

Baty has, of course, been here before. Two years ago, he submitted an excellent spring but never really had a chance to unseat Eduardo Escobar as the Mets’ everyday third baseman. Last year, Baty performed decently enough to win the third-base job, but he lost it by the end of May to Mark Vientos. This year, he’s not even a candidate to start at third, barring injury. Instead, the Mets are looking at him as a utilityman capable of playing second and third base and maybe even shortstop.

Unlike younger teammate Luisangel Acuña, Baty has logged nearly 1,000 plate appearances in the upper Minors, giving the Mets less reason to send him back there for development. But Baty also has a career .607 OPS over more than a full season’s worth of games in the Majors.

In other words, if he wants to be here, he needs to prove he deserves it.

Consider this a decent start: a .545 average and two home runs through 11 Grapefruit League plate appearances.

“When you’re coming in and fighting for a job, trying to make the club,” Baty said, “it’s always good to start off hot, right?”

Baty wasn’t in the lineup on Friday, which isn’t to say he was inactive. In his down time, Baty has been drilling hard at second base, a position he began playing regularly last year in the Minors. He recently acquired his own middle infielder’s glove, a baby blue Wilson A2000 model. Previously, he used his larger third baseman’s glove at second.

How much versatility Baty shows on defense may ultimately prove more important than how well he hits in spring games. Mets officials could also decide to prioritize the shortstop experience of Donovan Walton or Luis De Los Santos, two veteran infielders fighting alongside Baty for one open bench spot. Baty hasn’t begun taking shortstop reps this spring, but regardless of what happens in the coming weeks, he’ll still be a novice at the position on Opening Day.

Yet even accounting for all that, Baty’s allure is clear. The 12th overall pick in the 2019 Draft, Baty owns a career .899 OPS at Triple-A. If he stays hot during Grapefruit League play, Baty would tempt Mets officials as a potentially potent left-handed bat on a largely right-handed bench. So far, he’s managed to quiet some of the extraneous movements in his swing, keeping his head still and attacking the baseball.

The adjustments have been plain to see. Of Baty’s six hits, three have gone for extra bases.

But the spring is long, and team officials intend to evaluate the bigger picture -- not just the results from four games in February.

“Look, it’s good that he’s having results early on for his confidence,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s a guy that’s competing for a spot, and he’s off to a really good start. He just needs to continue to do it.”