Gary Sanchez

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.

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.

[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.