Gary Sánchez is several years removed from MLB stardom.
Surely New York Mets fans understand that, and aren’t setting ridiculous expectations for the 30-year-old veteran.
But Sánchez has already impressed Mets fans in his very first game for the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse.
Sánchez began trending on Twitter Wednesday night after collecting two hits and walking in his first three plate appearances against the Buffalo Bisons.
Gary Sánchez is 2-for-2 in his first game for Syracuse! pic.twitter.com/pdbu2DEekW
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 10, 2023
Perhaps this reaction was inevitable. Sánchez, a two-time All-Star with the crosstown rival New York Yankees before his career imploded, signed a minor-league contract with the Mets Tuesday.
It’s not often a veteran MLB player coming off three horrendous years in a row (with batting averages of .147, .204, and .205) excites a fan base. But the Mets are desperate for some catching depth. Highly touted prospect Francisco Álvarez got off to a rocky start at the plate, although he’s heated up lately. The Mets catching corps as a whole is in the bottom five in the MLB with a sub-.200 batting average.
Maybe that’s why Sánchez’s signing and first game have drawn so much buzz. Sánchez played catcher and batted cleanup Wednesday night.
Many Mets fans were keeping an eye on Sánchez’s performance in his Mets minor league debut — and they liked what they saw.
Might as well arrive in Flushing because Tomas Nido is done.
— John Frascella (Football) (@LegendSports7) May 10, 2023
Maybe this is our Travis d’Arnaud type signing that the Braves pulled off???
— Uncle Stevie’s Favorite Nephew (@gerryrard) May 10, 2023
Bring him up
— PAUTA Y FLOW (@BKNETS417) May 10, 2023
I always hoped that the Mets could, just once, get a cast-off from another team, and have it work out.
— Jay Patel 🟧 (@JackDoe351) May 10, 2023
I guess now we’ll be getting updates on his every at bat
— Stacy NYC (@Hustlediva1) May 10, 2023
I’m waiting until he gets called up and playing everyday over Alvarez
— AJF (@BronxMetFan) May 10, 2023
I’m crying this is why we signed Gary sanchez ig 😭😭
— tamanna (@raknmeje) May 10, 2023
Gary Sanchez call up time
— Joe Lambert 🇺🇦 (@Joeiscool721) May 10, 2023
[SNY Mets; Photo Credit: GENY Mets Report]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.