PORT ST. LUCIE — In the months before he was set to arrive at Sacred Heart University, Zack Short heard rumors that a prominent name tied to his childhood memories of his favorite baseball team was joining the athletic department.
Former Mets manager Bobby Valentine was headed to Sacred Heart as the athletic director, and Short couldn’t believe his luck.
“I was like, ‘All right, I am going to try to get to know this guy,’ ” said Short, an infielder claimed off waivers by the Mets in the offseason who hopes to make the team in spring training. “He would never step over the line and interfere with the coaching, but if you wanted to talk to him, he was there.”
Short took advantage of those opportunities.
“He was great to me throughout my draft process,” said Short, who was selected in the 17th round by the Cubs in 2016. “I actually saw him in Los Angeles last year. We were getting ready to take our pregame ground balls and all I heard was ‘Shorty!’ I was like, ‘I don’t think anyone in LA knows me,’ and I turn around and there is Bobby V smiling ear-to-ear as he always did.”
The 28-year-old Short, a Kingston native, grew up with both New York teams in his bloodlines — his mother rooted for the Yankees and his dad for the Mets.
Short said he grew up a Mets fan, though he spent more of his youth attending games in The Bronx than in Queens.
“My favorite guys like [Derek] Jeter and [Jorge] Posada are Yankees,” Short said. “But I loved watching guys like Edgardo Alfonso and Benny Agbayani growing up. I don’t know how I sided with the Mets. I think I just sided with my dad’s side.”
Short’s major league debut came with the Tigers in 2021.
Last season he appeared in 112 games for the team and owned a .204/.292/.339 slash line with seven homers and 33 RBIs.
He will begin camp behind veteran Joey Wendle on the depth chart as a backup who can play multiple infield positions.
Short is without remaining minor league options.
“It’s just kind of day by day right now,” Short said. “They have younger guys all around the locker room, but I am excited to try to make the team and help in whatever way.”
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