PORT ST. LUCIE — The little boat sits in the back corner of the parking area at the Mets’ minor league complex.
This is not just any boat.
The 14-footer with the 15-horse engine belongs to pitchers Steven Matz and Jacob deGrom. The two often take it out bass fishing.
“We love fishing,’’ Matz said Thursday. “We get out there and mess around, there’s nobody around. It’s fun and Jacob is such a good guy. He’s been fishing longer than me, but I would say I’m catching more fish than him this spring.’’
Noted deGrom, “Hopefully that changes soon.’’
Added Matz, “We’re just out there trying to catch the famous 5-pound bass.’’
When deGrom got married after last season, Matz was in the wedding party. When deGrom had his incredible success last season, coming out of nowhere to win the NL Rookie of the Year award, Matz couldn’t have been happier for his friend.
DeGrom’s success also brought Matz’s career into focus. Noah Syndergaard is the Mets’ top pitching prospect, but Matz is 1A.
One high-ranking Mets executive told The Post, “I think Matz will be up before the year is out.’’
Said Matz, 23, of deGrom’s success: “It’s almost like, if he can do it, I can do it.’’
DeGrom sees nothing but good things for Matz.
“He’s unbelievable,’’ deGrom said. “We play catch a lot, and he’s hard to catch because he throws such a heavy ball.’’
On Thursday the two fishing buddies worked on sharpening Matz’s delivery in the bullpen. This fish tale is a tale of two talented young pitchers, who didn’t get away.
Matz’s fastball ranges from 92 to 97 mph. The left-hander also throws a curve and changeup. He does not throw a cutter.
“This past year I threw a two-seamer, and that helped me get a lot more ground balls early in the count,’’ Matz said.
In 2014 at Class-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton, Matz was 10-9 with a 2.45 ERA last year. He was magnificent in the Eastern League Championship game for Binghamton, striking out 11 over 7 1/3 innings and surrendering just two hits in the eighth.
Matz underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2010. DeGrom had the same surgery in October of that year.
“Even though I missed a couple of years, I was still down here working,’’ Matz said. “I met guys like deGrom, and that is how he became one of my really good buddies.’’
Funny how it all worked out.
Lou Petrucci, Matz’s coach at Ward Melville High in East Setauket, said he never has had a player as accomplished or as hard-working as Matz.
“I’d have to come and open the gym for him at 6 a.m.,’’ Petrucci said. “He’d be waiting for me, saying, ‘Hey Lou, you’re late.’ ‘Sorry, Steve, I’ll be early next time.’ He’s such a wonderful kid. He comes back to talk to my sixth-grade class and is always helping out at clinics and camps.’’
Of his high school coach, Matz said, “That guy has a great heart and would do anything for you.’’
Matz is one of three children. He has an older brother, Jonathon, a graphic designer, and a younger sister, Jillian, an environmental science major at the University of Delaware. His dad, Ron, is a service manager at a car dealership. His mom, Lori, is an athletic director’s secretary.
“My mom and dad are really good parents and they taught me how to work hard,’’ Matz said. “Even in school, I wasn’t the smartest, but I would always try real hard.
“I was a Mets fan growing up, but I was more of a player’s guy and my favorite player was Vladimir Guerrero.’’
Matz is a good hitter, too, but always had that gift of an arm.
“Natural smoothness,’’ Ron said. “When Steven was 10, the scout Larry Izzo saw him at a baseball camp and handed me his card and said, ‘Keep in touch.’ ”
When Matz was drafted in 2009, Ron Matz showed Izzo the business card from years earlier.
No, it will not be long before Steven Matz is fishing for major league wins with his friend Jacob deGrom.