51s’ star shortstop goes from Las Vegas to the big leagues
DENVER — Amed Rosario was on his way to a room Monday at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, the home of the Mets’ Class AAA affiliate, for one of his regular English lessons. Then his cellphone rang with the news he had worked and hoped for his entire life.
It was Las Vegas manager Pedro Lopez calling to tell the 21-year-old Rosario, the Mets’ shortstop of the future and one of the top prospects in baseball, that he was being called up to the major leagues. During a season of much disappointment, Mets fans had looked forward to his potential arrival, as did Rosario.
“I don’t have words to describe that moment,” he said. “I was very excited.”
On Tuesday morning, Rosario flew to Denver. He arrived at Coors Field in the early afternoon, and in the early evening, he slipped into his blue-and-orange Mets No. 1 jersey for the first time to take batting practice. He started at shortstop and was slotted into the No. 7 spot in the lineup against the Colorado Rockies.
“I’m anxious to see him play, and I hope he can just relax and play the game without thinking he’s got to prove too much,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “He’s an exciting player with great skills, and we saw it in spring training, and now got his opportunity to show it.”
And in the Mets’ 5-4 walkoff loss to the Rockies, Rosario showed his rawness.
He went 1 for 4, notching his first major league hit by beating out a ground ball in the eighth inning. He cleanly fielded the balls hit to him, except for when he broke to cover second base on a single by D.j.lemahieuonthegame’spenultimate play, which could have resulted in a double play.
Rosario said covering second base and then breaking the opposite direction for a ground ball was a difficult play.
Still, he said his first major league game was “a tremendous experience.”
Collins said of Rosario, “He handled himself great.”
Nolan Arenado, who hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning, then smacked the game-winning RBI single off Mets reliever Hansel Robles.
It was not the ending he would have hoped for, but before the game, Rosario looked at ease. He was composed when he spoke with reporters. He lounged on the couches in the clubhouse and laughed with his friend and mentor Jose Reyes, a Mets infielder. He signed autographs for fans and met with Collins, who reminded him to be himself and let his talents shine.
“The sky’s the limit,” Reyes said of Rosario, who was signed for $1.75 million out of the Dominican Republic at 16. When Reyes got to know Rosario at Class AA Binghamton last summer, he thought Rosario was going to be a special player.
“And less than one year later, he’s in the big leagues,” Reyes said. “I don’t expect less, with the talent that he has.”
Rosario’s speed, nifty glove work and contact bat propelled him quickly through the Mets’ minor league system. He hit .328, with seven home runs, 58 RBI and 19 stolen bases, in 94 games with Las Vegas.
In New York, as the Mets’ season slipped away, the calls for the team to bring up Rosario grew louder. But the Mets wait- ed, wanting more experience for Rosario and an open spot in an infield filled with veterans.
Rosario said he paid little attention to the discussions about his call-up.
“I try not to take what’s going on outside to the field, and I try to give my best in games and leave everything else in God’s hands,” Rosario said in Spanish.
The Mets traded away only one infielder, first baseman Lucas Duda, by Monday’s nonwaiver trade deadline, but they prepared for Rosario’s arrival by juggling their infielders and trying out players at new positions.
Collins said the Mets would have no set third baseman, so Neil Walker, Reyes and Asdrubal Cabrera could see action there. (Cabrera has played there the most recently, including Tuesday.) Walker may also play second, where he started Tuesday, and first. Reyes, who was the recent everyday shortstop, may see time all around the infield, including second.
“They all want to play, so it’ll be challenging to make sure we get at-bats for guys,” Collins said. “We’ll figure it as it goes.”
The Mets want to get Rosario days off here and there. The minor league season is shorter than that of the major leagues, and Rosario has never played deep into September.
But Collins said Rosario would be the primary option at shortstop. He may also move up in the lineup based on his performance.
“Again, he’ll determine a lot on how he handles things,” Collins said.
When Rosario received the news of the call-up, he was told to keep it secret until the Mets announced the news soon after the trade deadline passed at 4 p.m. Monday.
But Rosario did tell his sister, Yanitza, who normally lives in New York but spent part of the season living with him in Las Vegas. He told her not to tell their parents. Once the call-up was revealed, Rosario called his parents with the news.
Rosario said there was not enough time for his parents to make it to Denver for his debut, but they planned to be in New York on Friday, when the Mets return from this trip.
Back home in Santo Domingo, Rosario’s parents watched their son’s first game on television with a large group of family and friends. The future was finally here.
“It’ll be really important to take those steps and embark on the next step of my life and my dreams,” he said.