MMO Exclusive: Mets Catcher Tomás Nido

Tomás Nido is entering his sixth season of big league action for the Mets, and this time it’s as their No. 2 catcher and one of the best defensive backstops in baseball.

Nido, 28, was the Mets eighth round pick in the 2012 draft out of Orangewood Christian High School in Florida. The native of Puerto Rico struggled offensively during his first four seasons in the minor leagues, never posting an OPS above .660 in the lower minors. His offensive breakout came in 2016 when he hit .320/.357/.459 in 90 games for High-A St. Lucie.

The next season Nido would struggle to a .641 OPS in Double-A Binghamton, but did hit 19 doubles, eight home runs, and 60 RBIs in 102 games. Nido would get his first taste of the big leagues that season too, he went 3-for-10 in five September games for the Mets. In 2018, Nido played in 34 big leagues games scattered from April through September. He impressed quickly behind the plate with 2.9 FRAA (fielding runs above average) in only a short period.

That defensive showing earned Nido 50 games of playing time during the 2019 season. He continued to struggle offensively (45 OPS+), but ranked 14th among 113 catchers with his 6.5 FRAA. Nido had cemented his role as the Mets back-up catcher, but then COVID-19 would hit in 2020 and it would take a personal toll on Nido.

Nido was off to a hot start in 2020, going 7-for-24 with two home runs in his first seven games of the shortened schedule. Then Nido tested positive for COVID, had complications coming back from the virus, and had his season ended early.

The 2021 season was an important one for Nido after missing most of the shortened 2020. He ended up as the Mets primary back-up and played in a career-high 58 games. Nido was one of the best defenders in the league with 8.9 FRAA, tied with Will Smith for eighth among 116 ranked catchers. He led all qualified catchers with a 53.5% strike rate (Baseball Savant) and his 5 catcher framing runs from Savant had him tied for seventh.

Nido has started just 3-for-16 at the plate this season for the Mets, though him and James McCann have been good defensive duo handling one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.

Nido talked to me about getting to catch a great rotation, the early stages of fatherhood, and improvements he’s trying to make.

This interview took place during the last week of spring training. 

MMO – What has it been like to be able to catch Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, and then specifically catching them on the same day?

Nido – It’s insane to be able to catch Jake and then Max, it almost doesn’t feel real to have them both on the same team. We’re all very lucky to be a part of this group that includes those two.

That could be a once-in-a-lifetime situation where they both pitch in the same game so I was just trying to play it out in my head how it would go, and I think it went exactly how I thought it would.

They’re two guys that you literally put a sign and the glove down and they hit the spot. So it’s pretty easy from a catcher standpoint.

MMO – How has it been as a recent father trying to balance that with getting ready for the season?

Nido – I have to give 100% credit to my wife that handles everything during the season and she tries to let me get my sleep. When I get home I try to relieve her so she gets a break. Everything with our daughter has been incredible and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s been a blessing, I try to embrace every stage of my life whether it’s good or bad and really just try to take it one day at a time.

MMO – Did you do anything different this offseason now that you’ve cemented your role on the big league roster?

Nido – I would say that I’ve tried to work on my plate discipline, I want to get better there. Obviously I can still be aggressive, but a little bit more under control and then get myself in better counts so that I can show that aggressiveness on good pitches. I had a little bit of trouble with certain pitches inside the zone, so I’ve been working on that little by little and one day at a time.

MMO – You were one of the best framers in baseball last year (7th in framing runs by Baseball Savant), is that something you’ve focused on?

Nido – I’m certainly aware of it, but I don’t solely focus on that. It obviously helps the pitchers and helps the team win ballgames. Like when you’re facing a tough lineup and you’re able to steal some strikes, that helps us out and makes it harder on the hitters. I take pride on that, but at the end of the day, I try to take pride in everything. Being able to pair good defense and offense will obviously help the team out more, so I’m working to solidify myself offensively to be a weapon there as well.

MMO – What are your thoughts on robot umpires?

Nido – I’ve said it before, that I’m not afraid of it and I think it’s still a little bit away. I think it has it’s pros and cons, it could hurt and benefit both sides. We will have to see when it gets here. I’m not saying I don’t like it, but we have to see if it works and if there’s a reason for it. There’s a human element to the strike zone.

MMO – What are your goals for the 2022 season?

Nido – Every time I’m in the lineup I want to do everything that I can to put the team in a position to win. Whether that’s as the starting catcher or coming in at the end of the game, every situation that I’m in I want to help the team win. I feel like this team is built to win.

MMO – You got to work with Mets top prospect Francisco Alvarez in camp, what did you try to pass on to him?

Nido – I actually had the chance to work with Álvarez during the COVID year (2020) in Brooklyn when I was recovering from my COVID issues. I think that guy is going to be a superstar. There’s no doubt about the hitting, he’s going to mash. I think he knows that his defense needs work, I told him to take pride in his defense because at the end of the day that could be a plus. If he can put everything together back there it could be a scary combination. I think he has the world ahead of him, his potential is through the roof and I’m excited for him. I think he’s going to do big things.

MMO – MLB dot com just listed the Mets as the No. 1 rotation in baseball, what do you think of that?

Nido – I think that Mac and I are just lucky to work with those guys and we’re going to do everything that we can to make them feel as comfortable as possible with us behind the plate.

Follow Nido on Twitter: @tnido24