Griffin Canning put on a stellar pitching performance, leading the New York Mets to a 4-1 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. Canning allowed just one earned run, striking out eight batters over six innings, marking his best outing in a Mets uniform. After struggling with illness, he returned to the mound strong, displaying impressive command and efficiency, particularly in the later innings.

The Mets capitalized early with a robust second inning, scoring four runs off Andrew Pallante, including a home run from Mark Vientos. Despite a shaky start, Canning regained his composure, striking out batters and minimizing scoring threats effectively. The Mets' bullpen added to the victory, holding the Cardinals to just two baserunners in the last three innings.

Juan Soto's recent performance has showcased his remarkable defensive growth, especially during the Mets' home opener against the Blue Jays. His ability to track down a fly ball from Anthony Santander and make a crucial catch speaks volumes about his progress. Soto, initially known for his elite hitting rather than fielding, has committed to improving his defense under the guidance of Mets' outfield coordinator Antoan Richardson. Despite previous struggles, including a -16 OAA, Richardson sees potential in Soto to become one of the league's elite defenders.

With a solid support system in the outfield, including fellow outfielders Jose Siri and Tyrone Taylor, Soto has the opportunity to flourish. His recent shift to right field, taking over from the injury-prone Starling Marte, has also been noted positively. The Mets are optimistic about Soto's defensive development, evident in his improvement in defensive metrics and his proactive approach to learning and applying feedback. With his youth on his side, the Mets have high hopes that Soto will continue to enhance his defensive skills throughout his long-term contract.

Starling Marte, New York Mets outfielder, has recently shown interest in the new torpedo-shaped bats made by Tater Baseball, a family-owned bat manufacturing company. After witnessing the New York Yankees’ explosive offense, which included 36 runs and 15 home runs over three games, Marte placed an order for customized torpedo bats to use in batting practice. The innovative design aims to help players improve their bat speed while expanding the sweet spot for better contact.

Tater Baseball, founded in 2015, has carved out a niche in the competitive bat industry by focusing on training bats that help develop players' abilities. Starling Marte was the Vargas family's first major league client, having started using Tater bats in 2018, and the company has since scaled operations significantly, serving numerous MLB teams with their products. The torpedo bats are expected to gain popularity among players looking for an edge at the plate.

Brandon Nimmo is nearing a return to game action, recovering well from plantar fasciitis and reporting at 94% readiness. Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that he is on track to join Grapefruit League games next week. Meanwhile, Starling Marte is still limited to backfield work as the Mets cautiously manage his recovery from knee issues that sidelined him last season. The club is monitoring his progress carefully before allowing him competitive play.

Prospect Ronny Mauricio is also being closely evaluated following a lengthy absence from the game, with plans to potentially integrate him into games mid-March. His recent batting practice has shown promising power, indicating he could be an asset if he remains healthy. In the meantime, the Mets are evaluating their roster as players like Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil continue to make progress in their spring training.