Veteran first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who is entering his first season with the Mets, takes a swing at some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.

Q: What are your impressions of first-year manager Mickey Callaway?
A: He’s been awesome. He’s a very positive guy, communicates really well. The atmosphere he’s creating in the clubhouse is incredible. Just a really open guy, and I think he’s gonna be one of the best managers in the game.

Q: Does he remind you of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts at all?
A: The best managers out there are the ones that the guys are gonna play hard for. Mickey’s creating that culture, everybody wants to go out there and play hard for him. He reminds me a lot of Tito [Francona], and obviously it makes sense because he was with Tito for a few years there in Cleveland. But just that great people personality. When it gets down to it, he can get on somebody for not doing things the right way. That culture of have fun, but play the game right.

Q: How close is this Mets team to winning a World Series?
A: I think we have all the pieces that we need. Obviously with every team, there’s no one team that cannot say that health is gonna be the major factor going into the season. That’s the one goal: to stay healthy, stay on the field. And if the team can do that, the talent, and the experience, leadership, everything you need is all here in the clubhouse. I think this team is gonna be right in the thick of things all the way through.

Q: What do you like best about this team?
A: Obviously the things that are most important are pitching and defense, and I think we got guys that can play defense, we obviously got great arms, great pitching, and if you can do those things well, you can turn all the balls that should be outs into outs, the pitchers can do their thing. The last part of the equation is timely hitting, and we got guys that have proven over their career that they can get some big hits.

Q: How optimistic are you that you can bounce back from a poor 2017 season and be a force to be reckoned with again?
A: I feel like I’m having a good spring and making progress. My back feels great, and I feel like I’m ready to go. It’s definitely a lot better than I expected it to be. I want to play well for the Mets fans.

Q: How imposing is Noah Syndergaard on the mound?
A: He’s a big guy. He throws hard, and so you have to be ready for the fastball. If all his pitches are working, it’s definitely not an easy at-bat. It’s definitely not a guy that you want to face on an everyday basis.

Q: How’s he looked this spring?
A: That’s how you can define one of the best pitchers in the game is even when they’re not their best, they’ll go out there and throw zeroes.

Q: How is Matt Harvey looking this spring?
A: I haven’t been able to play behind him, but everything I’ve heard is good. It’s great to hear that he’s throwing the ball great, he’s feeling good. I know he’s working in the training room, in the weight room, and doing everything he needs to do to be ready and be prepared, so I expect him to have a great year.

Q: When he was at the top of his game, what was that like facing him?
A: He’s got four solid pitches and he can execute those and pitch. … He can dominate. He’s a guy that can go out there and beat any team anytime.

Q: Describe shortstop Amed Rosario.
A: I think he’s a guy that’s got five tools. There’s nothing he can’t do on the field.

Q: Fellow first baseman Dominic Smith.
A: Dom is a great kid, and he is most receptive to suggestions. He has a great future ahead of him.

Q: Was Todd Frazier one of the biggest talkers when he got to first as a baserunner?
A: We always had conversations about his brother [Charlie] ’cause I got to play with his brother in rookie ball [in 2000 in the Marlins system], and I got to know him pretty well. I always messed with Todd that Charlie’s my favorite Frazier.

Q: You were with the Dodgers team that lost to the Mets in the 2015 NLDS in five games.
A: The one thing that stands out the most is when Daniel Murphy took third base when there was nobody covering [in a 3-2 Game 5 win by the Mets]. Obviously it was a great series, went down to the last game, fought to the end, a lot of great moments in it. But that run ended up scoring and it was a big run. When we weren’t ready for that, I think that was a big turning point in that game.

Q: How would you describe Jacob deGrom in Game 5?
A: He was lights out. He was nasty. He was just like they were that series, the starting pitching was really good for them. That’s why they made it all the way to the World Series.

Q: What was it like playing behind Clayton Kershaw?
A: Another guy that’s an incredible competitor. Works every day all day, never stops working, never stops preparing, one of the big reasons why he’s had the success he’s had.

Q: What was it like playing for Don Mattingly?
A: Great guy, great person, great manager, great leader.

Q: What was “Big Papi” David Ortiz like as a teammate in Boston?
A: Great teammate. Liked to laugh and have fun, but when he was on the field, he was all business. He always liked to be in the big spots.

Q: Do you have a favorite Opening Day?
A: Probably my first Opening Day start, which was with San Diego, 2006 [2-for-4 with a double in a 6-1 win over the Giants].

Q: How frustrating was last season for you?
A: It was frustrating because you never want to be hurt, but it’s part of the game. You can learn from everything, and I learned that the body is not as durable as you might think it is, so you have to take care of it on an everyday basis.

Q: You were criticized for going to Europe during the playoffs.
A: I wasn’t gonna be on a playoff roster. I wasn’t allowed to be in the clubhouse or in the dugout, just like any other player that was not on any of the rosters was allowed to be, so when I talked to Andrew [Friedman, president of Dodgers baseball operations], Farhan [Zaidi, general manager] and Dave, they said just go home, so I was at home.

Q: Describe your on-field mentality.
A: Be prepared and focused. Don’t let any outside noise change the way you’re gonna go about your business.

Q: What drives you?
A: For me, I’m a man of faith, just being a person that is accountable and does everything he knows so I can be an example for others. It is my duty to give it 100 percent out there and always be prepared and have everybody around me recognize that. For me, having that accountability with the people in the clubhouse is the most important thing.

Q: If you could test your skills against one pitcher in history, who would it be?
A: I think he would definitely strike me out, but Sandy Koufax would be a great guy to face.

Q: What was it like being the first-overall pick in the 2000 draft by the Marlins?
A: It was something I wasn’t expecting, and when I got the phone call it was a great moment. Was able to fly to Miami and be there for the draft. … It was just a great experience, a great day and something I’ll never forget.

Q: Did it put pressure on you?
A: At first it did, when I got to rookie ball, but once I got past the fact I wasn’t there to impress other people, just focus on me being the best player I could be, that kind of took away the pressure. But at first, yeah.

Q: How did you feel about being compared to Rafael Palmeiro?
A: I’m not a big guy comparing people because of the fact that guys try to emulate or be like or try to do certain things. The best thing was is when I kept talking to people and people were like, “Hey, Palmeiro was not much of a home run hitter in the minor leagues, don’t think about trying to be a home run hitter just because he’s a home run hitter in the big leagues now.” Those are good lessons to learn. You can only be the player you could be and you can’t try to be somebody else.

Q: Who was your boyhood idol?
A: Tony Gwynn. Sweet swing, obviously, all those batting titles. Awesome player, and it was always fun to go watch him. Talk about him hitting the 5.5 hole [between the third baseman and shortstop] and getting all those hits. Unbelievable career.

Q: One hitter other than Gwynn whose brain you would love to have picked?
A: Probably Ted Williams.

Q: How did you become such a good glove guy at first base?
A: My dad was a first baseman. I got two older brothers, they were middle infielders when they grew up so for me growing up, we would go to the park, and my dad would hit ground balls to my brothers and I’d have to catch their throws, and then he’d always hit ground balls to me. Repetition and practice is what gets you to feel comfortable and be able to just relax and enjoy what you’re doing.

Q: How has fatherhood changed your life?
A: It’s the best thing that can happen in life. I’m just so blessed and so grateful to have two incredible girls, and love every moment being with them.

Q: Three dinner guests?
A: My wife and my two daughters.

Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Tombstone.”

Q: Favorite actor?
A: Denzel Washington.

Q: Favorite meal?
A: Ceviche.