PORT ST. LUCIE — Freddy Peralta threw a bullpen session Monday to his primary catcher for the first time this spring, under the watch of the team’s new pitching coach.
There is much newness to the Mets, to which the ace right-hander is a significant component.
But now comes the other side of it, as Peralta begins the acclimation process to his new team.
Some introductions won’t be necessary: Peralta had Tobias Myers, Devin Williams and Tyrone Taylor as teammates with the Brewers.
Many others have become acquaintances over his eight major league seasons.
His exposure to the team’s pitching group, headed by new pitching coach Justin Willard, was immediate following the trade that sent Peralta and Myers from Milwaukee on Jan. 21 for Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams.
And upon arriving to camp, Peralta said he’s been impressed with the amount of information he’s been provided.
“When I got over here, they knew all my stuff and a lot of things that I got surprised by, but that’s good,” Peralta said.
Those surprises have included learning about the progression of his slider over the past four seasons, and how frequently he’s used the pitch, down to his preferred grips.
The purpose isn’t to change Peralta — who finished fifth in the National League Cy Young Award voting last season after pitching to a 2.70 ERA in 33 starts for the Brewers — but to inform him.
“It’s been very comfortable, because they have been asking me how I do things and how I do my stuff, what I have been doing and we just communicate all that,” Peralta said. “We have been working together. It’s not like, ‘We have this new idea, and I think you can do this now.’ It’s been very nice and easy. I feel happy about that because they are not trying to change somebody. They are just trying to communicate and it will help to keep me doing what I have been doing.”
Peralta expects a seamless transition throwing mainly to Francisco Alvarez, who tops the Mets depth chart at catcher.
Luis Torrens also has extensive experience as the team’s primary backup.
“[Alvarez] has got a lot of energy, a lot of potential and I saw that before I became his teammate and I am very excited to see what we’re going to accomplish together,” Peralta said. “We had some conversations already, he caught my bullpen today and it was great. I think the relationship we are going to have is very important.
“But I think I am pretty easy to know, too. I don’t think it’s going to take that long, probably, but hopefully we get to know each other right before the end of spring training. That’s all we need, but I think it’s not going to take that long.”
Peralta, Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, David Peterson and Kodai Senga are the main rotation pieces, with depth options Jonah Tong and Christian Scott in the mix.
Peralta, an early arrival to camp, said his first days in the clubhouse have been welcoming.
“I know a lot of guys here and we’ve never played together, but we have been seeing each other during the season and we’ve been playing many times and it’s awesome, man,” Peralta said. “I have been getting a lot of love from everybody.”
Peralta is not participating in the World Baseball Classic this spring, instead pouring his energy into his first camp with the Mets.
“I’m just focusing on what I need to do and meeting everybody,” Peralta said. “Get my workouts done and try to stay healthy.”
