Inside Brett Baty’s second base project — and what might be his biggest challenge

HOUSTON — Daniel Murphy can certainly relate to the challenge the Mets’ newest infield transformation is facing.

Rewind almost two decades and Murphy was a third baseman ascending in the organization who was never going to have a chance to play the position for the Mets. David Wright had established himself as a franchise player, and it became clear to team officials that Murphy and his promising left-handed swing would have to find a new spot.

The Mets, after various experiments, finally settled on second base. Murphy lasted five full seasons at the position — long enough to become part of the franchise’s lore with his October 2015 power barrage. With a homer in six straight games, he set a postseason record in helping the team reach the World Series.

Now it’s Brett Baty’s turn. The 25-year-old third baseman shifted to second base this spring after Jeff McNeil was sidelined due to an oblique strain and will receive a look there for at least the first few weeks of the season. It’s an opportunity for Baty to show team brass he can still belong, even with his natural position blocked by Mark Vientos’ emergence last season.