New York Mets to Field Potentially Historic, Unconventional Infield on Opening Day

The New York Mets are setting the stage for one of the most unconventional Opening Day infields we’ve seen in decades—and this isn’t just a quirky footnote, it could be historic.

The buzz centers around two of the Mets’ newest acquisitions: Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco. According to the current team plans, Bichette is slated to start at third base, while Polanco will line up at first. On paper, it may not sound seismic—but dig deeper, and this move represents one of the boldest infield experiments in modern Major League Baseball.

Let’s start with Bichette. The former Toronto Blue Jays star has never played third base at any level of professional baseball. Not in the majors, not in the minors—nowhere. His career has been spent entirely at shortstop, where his quick hands, strong arm, and fluid footwork have made him an elite defender and offensive force.

During free agency, there was speculation about a position switch, with second base seeming the most natural option. Moving to second would have required less adjustment and leveraged his range, pivot skills, and shortstop instincts. But the Mets had a different plan.

New York acquired Marcus Semien, a Gold Glove-caliber second baseman, who is entrenched at the keystone. With Francisco Lindor firmly established at shortstop, the Mets’ front office effectively pushed Bichette to the hot corner—a position demanding quick reactions, a strong arm, and an entirely new defensive mindset. While Bichette’s athleticism makes him capable of the transition, the learning curve is steep. A single misstep on the hot corner can have outsized consequences in the infield, and Opening Day will put his adaptability on full display.

Then there’s Polanco. The longtime Minnesota Twins infielder has played just one game at first base in his major league career, and it wasn’t even a full nine innings. Now, he is penciled in to replace Pete Alonso, one of the franchise’s cornerstone sluggers and arguably the team’s most iconic first baseman.

Polanco’s transition is more than a positional change—it’s a cultural shift in the infield. Alonso’s presence wasn’t just about his bat; he anchored the infield and provided leadership. Polanco must adjust to first base’s different footwork, responsibilities, and angles while also filling the void left by one of the most feared right-handed power hitters in baseball.

How rare is this kind of move? According to MLB researcher Sarah Langs, you have to go back nearly 80 years to find a comparable Opening Day scenario. The last—and only—team in the last century to start two non-rookie infielders on Opening Day with one or zero prior MLB games at their new positions was the 1948 Brooklyn Dodgers.

That team featured Jackie Robinson, making his debut at second base after a rookie season at first, and Billy Cox at third. Anytime a modern team’s Opening Day infield is mentioned in the same breath as Jackie Robinson, even as a statistical anomaly, it underscores how unusual the Mets’ setup really is.

For New York, this isn’t just about plugging holes. It’s about fitting puzzle pieces into a larger strategic plan. The Mets have built a star-studded infield featuring Semien, Lindor, Bichette, and Polanco—all accomplished veterans capable of producing at high levels on both sides of the ball. But making it all work requires positional reshuffling that will be one of the season’s most compelling storylines.

The questions are immediate and compelling: Can Bichette handle the hot corner after a career at short? Will Polanco adjust to first base, especially under the pressure of replacing a slugger like Alonso? The stakes are high, but the Mets are betting big on versatility, athleticism, and upside.

There are other implications as well. A successful transition would give the Mets one of the most dynamic infields in baseball, combining elite offensive production with flexibility across positions. It would also allow New York to keep multiple high-value bats in the lineup without compromising defense—a luxury few teams can afford.

However, the risk is real. Opening Day will be a trial by fire. Mistakes in unfamiliar positions could lead to errors that cost games, place pressure on the pitching staff, and test clubhouse confidence. Even with their roster talent, the Mets are essentially running an experiment on baseball’s biggest stage.

From a roster-building perspective, this move signals a shift in philosophy. Rather than trading Bichette or Polanco to find positional fits, the Mets are prioritizing elite bats and veteran experience, trusting that their athleticism and baseball IQ will allow them to adapt quickly. It’s a move that blends analytics, projection, and old-school baseball intuition.

For fans, Opening Day isn’t just the start of a season—it’s the start of a potentially historic experiment. Watching Bichette at third and Polanco at first will be fascinating, not just because of the rarity, but because the team’s entire strategy revolves around the success of this unconventional infield.

And if it works? The Mets could boast one of the most versatile and high-powered infields in decades, capable of competing at the top of the National League East and making a legitimate push for the postseason. If it doesn’t? Queens may witness a long and public learning curve, testing patience, resilience, and adaptability.

Either way, the Mets’ decision is bold, strategic, and unorthodox. With Semien and Lindor anchoring second and short, and Bichette and Polanco learning new positions under the bright lights of Opening Day, New York is clearly betting on talent, versatility, and the belief that the sum of this infield will be greater than its parts.

Baseball purists may raise eyebrows, statisticians may scratch heads, and fans may hold their breath—but one thing is certain: this Mets infield will be must-watch content from Day 1, as history, risk, and talent collide in Queens.