New York Mets: 5 Under-the-Radar Players to Watch in Spring Games

Fair warning/reassurance, depending on your perspective: You won't find Tim Tebow here.

If you're looking for content on the New York Mets' most famous minor leaguer, you can find it. Brandon Sneed did an expansive piece on the former quarterback turned long-shot baseball player, and I interviewed him in September.

While Tebow is grabbing headlines, other Mets are flying under the radar this spring.

Here are five worth paying attention to as the exhibition slate unfolds, including a couple of pitchers with a chance to crack the Opening Day bullpen, a pair of infielders whose roles could expand with David Wright on the fritz and a (non-Tebow) outfielder trying to make noise in a crowded field.

Adam Wilk, LHP

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The Mets bullpen was a strength last season, ranking third in the National League in ERA (3.51) and second in strikeouts per nine innings (9.75).

It should be solid again, but there are possible openings, particularly with closer Jeurys Familia expected to serve a suspension under MLB's domestic violence policy, per the New York Daily News.

One arm worth keeping tabs on is left-hander Adam Wilk.

A non-roster invitee, the 29-year-old owns an unsightly 6.49 ERA in 26.1 big league innings with the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels.

He boasts a stout 4.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the minors, however, and has thrown 3.2 scoreless innings with no walks and four strikeouts this spring. 

Fellow lefties Josh Edgin, Sean Gilmartin and Josh Smoker are already on the 40-man roster. Wilk, though, could force the issue with more spotless outings.

Rafael Montero, RHP

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Staying in the bullpen, right-hander Rafael Montero is opening eyes.

The 26-year-old has averaged 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings over 73.1 innings with the Mets, but he has a 5.15 ERA over the same span with an untenable 5.4 walks per nine.

Through four exhibition innings, Montero has allowed no runs and no hits with six strikeouts.

"We see the stuff," manager Terry Collins said, per NorthJersey.com's Matt Ehalt.

"I've been watching him throw this spring. The arm's still there, the stuff's still there, got to command it. When he got to the big leagues it was because he was a strike thrower and we haven't seen that yet. If he does, he gets outs. The games that he's pitched the best is when he throws strikes. His stuff plays."

T.J. Rivera, INF

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Veteran third baseman David Wright is battling a shoulder impingement, and the news is "not good," per Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News.

With Jose Reyes likely to take over at the hot corner, that opens an opportunity for a utility infielder.

T.J. Rivera hit .333 with three home runs in 33 games for the Mets last season and sports a career .324/.371/.434 slash line in 625 minor league games.

The 28-year-old has been getting reps at third base, and homered on Tuesday while starting at the hot corner.

"My mentality whenever I come to spring is I'm going to fight to be the best player I can be," Rivera said, per MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. "If the spot goes to me, so be it."

Gavin Cecchini, INF

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With all the (justified) attention being heaped on shortstop/top prospect Amed Rosario, it's easy to forget there's another young, pedigreed middle infielder in the Mets camp.

The 12th overall pick in the 2012 draft, Gavin Cecchini cracked a pair of doubles in six MLB at-bats in 2016. The 23-year-old is on the 40-man roster but unlikely to break camp with the big club.

That said, he's 5-for-9 thus far in Grapefruit League action with a double and a home run. He's getting reps at second base, where Neil Walker is the incumbent but where Cecchini wouldn't be blocked by Rosario.

Exhibition stats come with enough grains of salt to line a super-sized margarita. Still, Cecchini is drinking deep in the Sunshine State.

Brandon Nimmo, LF/CF/RF

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The Mets outfield is crowded enough without Brandon Nimmo.

Veterans Yoenis Cespedes, Curtis Granderson and Jay Bruce are joined by Michael Conforto and Juan Lagares to stuff the depth chart. 

Nimmo, however, played left field, center field and right field for the Mets last season and hit .274 in 32 games. In many scenarios, the 23-year-old would have the inside track on a fourth or fifth outfielder gig.

Instead, Nimmo is fighting for his big league life in camp. Thus far, he's gone 3-for-12 with an RBI but no extra-base hits.

If nothing else, New York wants Nimmo to flash enough to be an attractive trade chip.

"If I were a betting man," an unnamed scout said, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, "I would bet that Nimmo is on another team at the deadline."

All statistics current as of March 1 and courtesy of MLB.com and Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.