WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Mets got a look into their potential near future on Thursday, when Jorge Polanco started at first base, with Brett Baty behind him in right field. 

Both players looked fine, but went largely untested in a 7-4 loss to the Nationals. 

They likely won’t be as fortunate when the regular season comes and more unpredictable plays develop. 

Baty and Polanco are doing what they can to be as prepared as possible. 

Baty, who played the outfield — but only left — in the minors, is still adjusting to balls moving in the opposite direction of what he’s used to seeing when he’s on the left side of the field.

He agreed with manager Carlos Mendoza’s decision to keep him on the right side of the diamond for the foreseeable future, either at first base or in right field. 

“When he mentioned it, I didn’t even think about it, but it’s a good plan,’’ Baty said. “It makes sense.” 

And though Baty and Polanco said they were growing more comfortable at their new positions, they acknowledge it’s too early to say just how good they’ll be once Opening Day hits in three weeks. 

But the fact that they are both learning first base — along with Mark Vientos, who is away from the team and playing third base for Team Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic — has helped. 

“There’s no ego with him,’’ Baty said of Polanco, primarily a middle infielder during his lengthy MLB career. “He wants to play, and he’ll play wherever. We’re both bouncing ideas off each other, working on our footwork. It’s good to have both [of] us there working — and Mark, too, when he was here.” 

Polanco, who made a smooth play on a sharp grounder from Keibert Ruiz in the third inning, taking the ball himself, said he’s also feeling more comfortable at first base. 

“He’s engaged with the dugout and the movement from batter-to-batter [and] pitch-to-pitch,’’ Mendoza said. 

Some scouts remain skeptical that the Mets’ rotating group of players will be successful. 

In addition to Polanco, Baty and Vientos, there’s Bo Bichette moving from shortstop to third base. 

Bichette made a high throw to first after a nice stop and has said he’s growing more accustomed to the hot corner after a few weeks of work. 

But the reason the Mets want them to make adjustments in the field is because they want them in the lineup. 

Bichette had two hits and Baty hit an opposite-field homer. 

“It was good to see him drive the ball the other way,’’ Mendoza said of Baty’s blast.