SET IN STONE
Mets say Seaver statue outside Citi Field will be unveiled before Opening Day 2022
The Mets’ Tom Seaver statue, which has been in the works for nearly two years, will be unveiled at Citi Field on Opening Day 2022, the team announced Tuesday. Seaver, nicknamed “The Franchise,” died last September at age 75 following complications from Lyme disease, dementia and COVID-19.
“We are excited to celebrate the unveiling with more fans at Citi Field in 2022 and know that Tom would be proud,” the Seaver family said in a statement.
The statue was commissioned by former Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon in 2019 and was originally scheduled to be unveiled this summer. The date was pushed back due to pandemic-related delays on the artist’s part, team president Sandy Alderson said Tuesday in a statement.
“We are excited to unveil this one-of-a-kind tribute to Tom, but it has to be right,” said Alderson. “Given delays related to the pandemic, the artist asked for additional time to complete his work. After conferring with the Seaver family, we made the decision to unveil the statue on Opening Day 2022.”
Mets fans advocated for a Seaver statue for years before the Wilpons announced plans for it the same day they officially changed Citi Field’s address to 41 Seaver Way on June 27, 2019. There is already a space cleared for the statue near the Home Run Apple in front of Citi Field.
Seaver dropped out of public life in March of 2019 after he was diagnosed with dementia. The Hall of Famer notched 311 victories, 3,640 career strikeouts and three Cy Young Awards and lives on in memories of his role in the 1969 Miracle Mets championship season.
NIMMO ON WAY
Brandon Nimmo, who started the year red-hot at the plate, is expected to come off the injured list Friday for the Mets’ series opener in Tampa. J.D. Davis on the other hand, needs more time to recover.
“Nimmo is closer than J.D,” manager Luis Rojas said. “They’re both progressing better lately.”
Davis (left hand sprain) landed on the IL a few days before Nimmo (left index finger bruise), and the third baseman is eligible to be activated today. While Nimmo is swinging at “full go,” per Rojas, Davis is still unable to hit, with the discomfort in his hand holding him back.
The Mets hope Davis can return a few days after Nimmo, but the infielder appears several steps behind in his progression. Davis has been taking ground balls during batting practice and the injury does not impede his fielding. The Mets will discuss whether Davis needs to see live pitching before being activated.
HARVEY DAY
Matt Harvey – yes, the Dark Knight, that Matt Harvey – returns to Citi Field today for the first time since the Mets designated him for assignment in 2018 and later traded him to the Reds. He will take the hill for the Orioles in his first time facing the Mets.
Harvey was a 2013 All-Star for the Amazin’s and produced a buzz, on and off the field, in a tough New York market. Fans rallied for the former ace after he helped the Mets reach the 2015 World Series a year removed from his Tommy John surgery. Harvey went 34-37 with a 3.66 ERA and 612 strikeouts across 104 starts and 639.1 innings over six years in Queens.
Though he’s not the same pitcher anymore (he’ll return to Flushing with a 3.60 ERA through seven starts), the righty does appear to be somewhat rejuvenated.