During the start of New York Mets spring training in Port St. Lucie, Florida, pitcher Sean Manaea has drawn interest by forming an informal chess group. Before workouts begin at Clover Park, Manaea gathers with prospects Carson Benge, Ryan Clifford, and others, demonstrating chess moves and sparking quiet competition.
The chess board has become a focal point during downtime as players including Jonah Tong, Jacob Reimer, and Jack Wenninger join in, practicing strategy and learning through play. Manaea’s involvement highlights his desire to create a space where younger players can sharpen their minds and connect off the field.
Building Camaraderie and Mental Sharpness Through Chess
Manaea explained that the idea of establishing a chess club has been a long-held hope.
“There’s been this dream to have a little chess club,”
he said on Saturday.
“It’s all the young’uns and they’re all super into it, which is pretty cool. … Chess is such a cool, cool thing.”
The game offers more than just a distraction from long spring training days; it promotes mental flexibility and fosters a spirit of friendly rivalry that strengthens relationships among players from varying age groups, with Manaea roughly a decade older than many participants.
Similar initiatives are emerging in baseball, with the Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan starting his own chess club and hosting tournaments. Manaea expressed optimism about this trend expanding, stating,
“Hopefully one day it’s a league-wide thing, to have a little chess club. That would be the ultimate goal.”
Manaea’s Personal Connection to Chess
Sean Manaea’s passion for chess dates back to his youth, having briefly participated in a chess club in fourth grade before turning his attention elsewhere. His recent reengagement with the game began in 2023, while with the San Francisco Giants, after a coach expressed interest in learning the game. Manaea then taught that coach, resumed playing online, and admired street chess masters in New York’s Washington Square and Bryant Park during his commutes.
The Growing Interest Among Mets Players
Among those drawn to the chess club are Jonah Tong and Christian Scott. Tong learned the game from friends and has quickly taken to competing with Manaea. Scott found chess to be a constructive pastime during recovery from Tommy John surgery, recalling,
“When I got [Tommy John] surgery, I was trying to find some new, fun things to do,”
and that a friend encouraged him to play regularly on their phones.
Scott has mostly watched the games in the clubhouse, admitting,
“Sean is a little bit above me. He’s really good. Jonah is, too.”
Although he joked about challenging Manaea, he has yet to make a move against him.
Conversely, Tong has been actively competing with Manaea since late last season. He acknowledged,
“I’m trying to think two moves ahead, because that’s what he does,”
and despite a single win over Manaea, he admits, “He’s better than me.” Manaea responded humorously,
“and I vowed to never let it happen again. He’s got a lot to learn but we play all the time.”
Competition and Growth Inside and Outside Spring Training
Although finding opponents outside the Mets has been a challenge, Manaea has reached out to players on other teams, with Steven Kwan being the most responsive. The chess group has nonetheless expanded within the team this spring, indicating growing enthusiasm.
Manaea noted, “It’s just grown,” highlighting the informal club’s natural expansion. Observation of newcomers such as Christian Scott suggests potential for the club to welcome additional members in the near future, as Manaea remarked,
“I’ve seen him sit there and watch. Some guys watch but they don’t get over to the board.”
Chess Club Adds a New Dimension to Mets’ Spring Training Environment
The chess club, led by Sean Manaea and involving a mix of pitchers and prospects, offers a mentally stimulating alternative to physical drills. This activity not only helps players maintain mental sharpness but also builds stronger bonds off the field. Its emergence reflects a broader trend in MLB to embrace cognitive games as tools for development and team unity. With the enthusiasm shown by these Mets players and others around the league, chess could become a staple pastime during the season and beyond.
