Collins: Bruce will play some first base during spring training

When position players for the New York Mets report to spring camp in Florida on Feb. 18, Jay Bruce will enter as an outfielder, but he could wind up playing somewhere else, too.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Bruce will likely receive reps at first base so that the 29-year-old can get the at-bats he needs and Collins will have a fallback option in case Lucas Duda gets hurt again.

"Just because Lucas has had some injury issues, I think we've probably got to have Jay do some work over there," Collins told the New York Post's Mike Puma on Tuesday. "Not push it on him, because he still is going to play the outfield. But we have just got to make sure we have another option there, especially if something happens to Lucas where we've got a left-handed bat that can go over there."

Duda missed all but 47 games last season after suffering a stress fracture in his back. While the Mets could use the right-handed hitting Wilmer Flores at first if Duda were to get hurt, Bruce provides a left-handed hitting option with more pop.

2016 stats

Bruce has appeared in three games at first base during his big-league career, logging 26 total innings at the position, but hasn't played there since 2014.