Mets top prospect Rosario makes debut
Shortstops Rosario gets a hit in 1st game
Wearing No. 1, the centerpiece of the Mets' youth movement — Amed Rosario — is now a major leaguer.
Wearing No. 1, the centerpiece of the New York Mets’ youth movement is now a major leaguer.
Shortstop Amed Rosario joined the team and made his big league debut in Tuesday night’s 5-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
Rosario got his first big league hit in the eighth inning and turned in several solid defensive plays. A misplay in the bottom of the ninth, however, helped set up the Rockies to score their gamewinning run.
Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon drew a leadoff walk from Hansel Robles and DJ LeMahieu followed with an infield single off the glove of Rosario, unable to make the backhand play after initially breaking toward second base with Blackmon running on the pitch.
“It was actually pretty difficult, one of the tougher plays I’ve seen
in this game,” Rosario said through a translator.
Nolan Arenado then reached out and looped a single to center field, scoring Blackmon.
Moments after a tough loss, Rosario received words of support and encouragement from veteran teammates.
“It means a lot,” he said. “That’s part of the game. I’ll shake it off.”
Mets manager Terry Collins said Rosario caught a tough break.
“He shouldn’t be upset about that play. It was a tough play,” Collins said.
Prior to the game, Collins said he was excited to see his new shortstop.
“I’m anxious to see him play,” he said. “I hope he can relax and just play the game without thinking he’s got to prove too much. He’s an exciting player. He’s got good skills.
“We saw it in spring training. Now he’s going to get his opportunity to show it.”
Also recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas was righthanded pitcher Chasen Bradford. The Mets freed up roster spots by optioning infielder Matt Reynolds and trading closer Addison Reed to Boston on Monday. Collins said A.J. Ramos, acquired from Miami last Friday, would step into the closer role.
Rosario will get every
opportunity to lock down the shortstop position as the Mets begin to focus on their future in the last two months of the season. The 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic was given his jersey number by the team.
“I’m so thankful to God for this opportunity,” Rosario said. “I’m really at a loss for words for this, I’m so, so excited.”
He is the youngest Mets player to make his big league debut since Dilson Herrera played his first game on Aug. 29, 2014, when he was 20.
Rosario was hitting .328 with 58 RBIs at Las Vegas, scoring 66 runs in 94 games. The call-up of the Mets’ No. 1-ranked prospect had been anticipated for weeks, but Rosario said he pushed all the hype surrounding his pending promotion from his mind.
“I don’t think I lost my focus because I don’t take what’s happening off the field onto the field,” he said. “I really didn’t pay much attention to it.”
As for a since-deleted tweet that he made a couple weeks ago in which he expressed his eagerness to get to the majors, he said, “I took it down because I think people really misinterpreted it. I think they took it not in the way I meant it. I was just trying to have a little bit of fun, be relaxed.”
Collins said he spoke to Rosario about exactly that heading into his big league debut.