New York Daily News

Mets say goodbye to Amed in style

- BY SARAH VALENZUELA

Amed Rosario’s time with the Mets ended one week into the new year.

The Mets traded Rosario, along with top prospect Andres Gimenez, pitcher Josh Wolf and outfielder Isaiah Greene to Cleveland for All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitcher Carlos “Cookie” Carrasco on Jan. 7.

As much as the Mets upgraded their lineup and rotation in the steal of a deal, the cost was at least seemingly sentimenta­l. And nine days later, the Mets bid farewell to one of their own in a video of Rosario’s top moments with the Amazin’s, shared to the team’s social media pages.

The video ends with a “Thank you, Amed” title screen with the sound of applause.

Rosario, 25, was a product of the Mets’ farm system. He was signed as an amateur free agent out of Dominican Republic back in 2012. He rose to the top as the Mets’ No. 1 prospect by 2017 (No. 5 overall) when he made his major-league debut.

Rosario’s speed and offensive output early on, in particular, was what made him attractive in the eyes of Mets fans, with many seeing flashes of Jose Reyes in him with each stolen base. Rosario particular­ly impressed in his second full season, 2019, when he hit .287 with 15 homers, 72 RBI and 19 stolen bases. The last Met to finish a season batting over .280 with double-digit homers and stolen bases was Reyes, according to MLB.com.

Rosario’s departure from the Mets seemed as bitterswee­t for him as it apparently was for the team.

“So much going through my mind at the moment but it’s time to embrace my new journey,” Rosario wrote on Instagram sharing one photo of himself as a Met with the words “THANK YOU” written over it. “To the New York Mets Organizati­on thank you for a taking a chance with a 16 yr old kid from Santo Domingo and giving me the opportunit­y to do what I love.

“To all Mets fans, you will always have a place in my heart, New York is truly amazing,” Rosario continued. “I gave you my all each and everyday I stepped in Citi Field. Thank you for EVERYTHING from the bottom of my heart! Over and out — Amed.”

 ??  ?? Amed Rosario
Amed Rosario

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States