New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo held a special sandlot baseball game for local Little Leaguers at Flushing’s Hinton Park on Friday, July 8.
Nearly two dozen Little Leaguers took part in the game with Nimmo.
Nimmo spent much of the game pitching to the kids and playing the outfield. He would tap players on the back and give them fist bumps whenever they made nice plays.
Nimmo wasn’t the only representative from the Mets organization to take part in the game, as Mr. Met was also there to take part and cheer on the kids.
Known for his positive demeanor and constant hustle on the field, Nimmo said he wants to be a great role model for kids like those at the sandlot game. He’s hopeful that these kids can apply the mindset of giving their all and having fun with what they do when they grow up, taking after Nimmo.
“Doing this just reminds me how blessed I am to get to do what I do each and every day and the reason that I love this game,” Nimmo said. “It really brings the community together, brings people together and just have fun, so I was really, really happy to be able to do this.”
A native of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Nimmo’s high school did not offer a baseball program. Instead, he played in the American Legion Baseball. He ended up performing so well in the league that the Mets drafted him with the 13th overall pick in the first round straight out of high school in the 2011 draft. He became the highest ever draft pick by a player from Wyoming.
“I’m that perfect story of someone who’s not supposed to be here, someone from Wyoming, where baseball isn’t the highest priority and I’m playing major league baseball and it was just by having fun and working hard at it,” Nimmo said. “I try to imprint upon them and impress on them that you never know where the game can take you if you keep having fun and having passion for it.”
Nimmo is hopeful that the kids who took part in the sandlot game can continue to help grow the game of baseball in their communities. He also stressed the importance of teamwork as a means to success, whether in baseball or anything else.
“There’s a lot of talent out here, so I’m excited for the future of our game,” Nimmo said. “These kids are our future and we have to invest in them and love them and have fun and teach them what being on a team is like and what goes into teamwork. It means a lot to me to be out here.”
In addition to getting to play baseball with Nimmo, the Little Leaguers each received a bag of Mets items, including replica batting gloves to the Bruce Bolt pair that Nimmo wears.
After being drafted out of high school in 2011, Nimmo made his major league debut on June 26, 2016. He is known for his great ability to reach base, finishing second in the National League in 2018 with a .404 on-base percentage (OBP) and ninth in 2020 with a .402 OBP. He is currently tied with Michael Conforto for the franchise record of hit-by-pitches with 50, including a league-leading 22 in the 2018 season. After Jacob deGrom, he is presently the longest-tenured Met.
Additional reporting by Paul Frangipane.
