In an interview with SNY during the New York Mets inaugural Fan Fest on Saturday, Brandon Nimmo reflected on his lost 2019 campaign.
Nimmo mentioned how important it was to return to the lineup towards the end of the season after being sidelined by a bulging disk in his neck.
“To get out there in September and have a month of playing healthy and getting back to who I am as a player was a lot of fun,” Nimmo said. “It was a lot of fun to go out there and not worry about the neck anymore when I was playing and just go out and play hard the way I know how.”
Nimmo also mentioned how he’s spent some of the winter in Port St. Lucie getting ready for the 2020 season. He felt relieved that he could continue his career without the worry of his neck injury recurring.
The 26-year-old outfielder slashed .221/.375/.407 (112 OPS+) during an injury-riddled 2019. He struggled on the outset of the campaign, hitting .200/.344/.323 before his injured list placement. However, once activated on Sept. 1, he hit .261/.430/.565 with five home runs and 15 RBI the rest of the way. Nimmo’s .430 September on-base percentage ranked No. 2 on the team, 21 points behind Todd Frazier‘s .451.
Nimmo was originally placed on the IL in mid-April with what was thought to be neck stiffness, resulting from a collision with the SunTrust Park wall on April 14, but further tests showed a bulging cervical disk pushing a nerve in his neck in addition to whiplash.
He’s expected to enter Spring Training fully healthy.
Nimmo was also prompted about the Astros’ recent sign-stealing scandal. The Wyoming native sounded extremely disappointed about the recent events.
“There’s a respect for each other [in Major League Baseball] and I think that kinda goes over that respect,” Nimmo said. “It was unfortunate to see that. We always want to see that battle, 1-vs-1, best-against-best, and I think when you know what’s coming, when it comes from a technology part or a third-party, it kinda takes the integrity out of it.”
Stay tuned to MMO for further updates about the Mets Fan Fest.
