Welcome back to the Mets Beat newsletter! Anthony DiComo has covered the Mets for MLB.com since 2007, including the past 16 seasons full-time on the beat. |
NEW YORK -- The sun was shining brightly over Flushing Meadows Corona Park earlier this week when play stopped on Field 10 and a microphone crackled to life. A pair of Bayside, Queens, Little League teams that were scrimmaging suddenly became aware that, standing off to one side, was Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo. For much of the next hour, Nimmo took part in the festivities, lobbing pitches to a group of awed Little Leaguers. The scene was idyllic. As parents relaxed on beach chairs under a stand of shade trees, Nimmo laughed and played with the kids. In foul ground, an Italian ice cart was doing brisk business. “This is what I grew up doing -- just finding anywhere that we could to play baseball,” Nimmo said. “To be able to put on this game and be able to have fun with the kids, this is what it’s all about -- trying to sow seeds for the next generation to enjoy the game as much as I have.” For three years now, Nimmo has hosted an annual sandlot Little League game as a way to give back to area youth. As part of the initiative, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation has donated more than $2 million for renovations of baseball and softball fields throughout Queens. The money helps, of course. But sometimes, donations of time can be just as impactful. |
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“My son couldn’t sleep last night,” said Teresa Reid, a volunteer special events coordinator for the Bayside Little League. “How often do you get a chance to be on a baseball field at eight, nine, 10 years old with someone that you idolize?” Nimmo, who grew up a Rockies fan in Wyoming, recalls similarly looking forward to any chances he had to meet their players. Now, he’s the one in that role. “You try and never take that for granted,” he said. “Our game can be stressful and pressure-filled. We have an expectation. It is our job. But I remember that feeling of … losing sleep over it because you’re so excited. To be able to have that impact is amazing to me. It might just be an hour of your time, but it makes a lifetime impact.” The Little League initiative is one close to Nimmo’s heart. For that reason, he’s looking forward to Sunday, when the Mets play the Mariners in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa. The last time the Mets participated in that event, back in 2018, Nimmo was on the injured list and unable to take part. He relishes the chance to be there this time and interact with another wave of children. |
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“This is what it’s all about,” he said. “It’s about coming out, having fun, being in the sun, being in nature, having fun with your friends playing a competitive game and learning those life lessons. “So for me, this is where it all starts,” Nimmo continued, glancing around the Queens sandlot. “It all starts with the kids and giving back to them, because the game has given me so much. So I want to be able to give back where I can. This and Williamsport are a huge part of that.” |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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After Pete Alonso, which active Met has the most home runs with the franchise? A) Francisco Lindor B) Jeff McNeil C) Brandon Nimmo D) Mark Vientos |
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On Sunday, David Wright will return to Citi Field for the first time since his number retirement ceremony to host the fourth annual Battle of the Badges charity baseball game. The event, which pits the NYPD against the FDNY, will take place Sunday at 4:10 p.m. (The Mets will be in Williamsport that day for the Little League Classic.) In his role as host, Wright -- the son of a Norfolk, Va., policeman -- will honor one hero from each service department prior to the game. He’ll also likely talk plenty of trash, as he’s known to do throughout the proceedings. The game will feature teams consisting of former high school, college and Minor League baseball players who now serve the local community as members of their respective departments. Tickets for the event are $20, with a portion of sales benefiting local NYPD and FDNY charities. They’re available for purchase at Mets.com/BattleOfTheBadges. |
• While there’s no sugarcoating what’s been happening with the Mets’ rotation, help is on the way. No. 3 prospect Nolan McLean, MLB Pipeline’s 37th-ranked prospect in baseball, will take the mound Saturday against the Mariners for his Major League debut. There’s a lot of hype around McLean, a former two-way player in college who tore through the Minor Leagues without much resistance. The Mets may not be asking him to be their savior, but they’ll be in much better shape if he proves capable of helping. • In case you somehow missed it, Alonso became the Mets’ all-time home run king earlier this week, passing Darryl Strawberry with Nos. 253 and 254 in the same game against the Braves. Here’s the recap from that night, along with a list of Alonso’s most memorable homers. |
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A) Francisco Lindor Lindor’s 132 home runs with the Mets are two more than Nimmo. (That total matches Michael Conforto, an active Dodger who hit 132 homers as a Met.) |
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