Daniel Zamora knew early on in his young baseball career that the best path towards making it professionally would be as a pitcher. He laughs when he remembers his days as a hitter, noting that he left much to be desired in the batter’s box. For Zamora, the decision to focus solely on pitching turned out to be the right choice in his career. The 24-year-old (25 in mid-April) left-handed...
Read More
In July 2015, the New York Mets signed 16-year-old Venezuelan shortstop Andres Gimenez for a $1.2 million signing bonus. This was a big signing for the Mets, as Ben Badler of Baseball America had recently ranked him as the second-best international prospect behind only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at the time (the list omitted Cuban players). For the young Gimenez, being signed by a major league club...
Read More
** This interview was conducted with Josh Smoker in early January, prior to him being designated for assignment on January 26.** When Josh Smoker made his major league debut with the New York Mets back on August 19, 2016, at the age of 27, he knew how difficult the road had been to make it there. Smoker, a former supplemental first-round pick of the Washington Nationals back in 2007, overcame...
Read More
Following the horrific aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which leveled Puerto Rico in late September, destroying homes and the power grid, and leading to a continually rising fatality count, celebrities and athletes donated their time and wealth to help aid in the rebuilding process for the island. Understanding the gruesome reality of what had been done to Puerto Rico, former Mets backup catcher...
Read More
Throughout baseball history, there are certain players who make a quick ascent to the majors, ready to dominate and live out a dream they’ve had since childhood. These players are few and far between, as the maturity factor and lack of experience can instantly overwhelm young athletes. Then there’s the case of Dwight Gooden. Selected fifth overall by the New York Mets in the 1982 MLB...
Read More
