Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Good morning, Mets fans!
The Mets opened the 2022 season on a strong note Thursday as they rallied around a strong five-inning effort from Tylor Megill to defeat the Washington Nationals 5-1 at Nationals Park. For more on this game, click here for our recap.
Now onto the morningbBriefing!
Latest Mets News
Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen said that the Tom Seaver statue will be unveiled at 10:15 a.m. before the team’s home opener on April 15. SNY will air a pre-game show titled “Franchise Forever.”
According to the Mets Farm Report twitter account, the Mets have acquired pitcher Adonis Medina from Pittsburgh and assigned him to Triple-A Syracuse. In a corresponding move, the team has designated pitcher Yennsy Diaz for assignment.
Latest MLB News
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. spoke with reporter Yancen Pujols for an interview on Instagram Live where he stated, in Spanish, that he and former Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman were not close. Acuna was quoted as saying that Freeman was “overbearing” and “didn’t care when he was plunked” as well as saying that Freeman was not someone he could talk to ever.
Acuna went to Twitter to deny saying those quotes. Another translation was shared by ESPN baseball reporter Alden Gonzalez, which provided an explanation of Acuna’s comments about Freeman. Acuna would later speak in the Braves clubhouse, stating that his comments were taken out of proportion.
Ronald Acuña Jr. spoke in the Braves clubhouse re: his Instagram live comments. He said his comments were exaggerated and blown out of proportion. Here are some highlights, w/his answers translated directly from Spanish pic.twitter.com/xIhUbAppv0
— Maria Torres (@maria_torres3) April 7, 2022
Marly Rivera of ESPN reports that all active Roberto Clemente award winners will wear a commemorative “21” patch on the back of their caps in recognition of the 50th anniversary of his passing, as well as honoring his legacy. The players who have won the award can wear the patch for the duration of their careers.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed infielder Ke’Bryan Hayes to an eight-year, $70 million extension with a club option for a ninth season. Robert Murray of FanSided notes that Hayes’ $70 million guarantee is the largest contract in team history. Hayes would be removed from yesterday’s game due to a spasm in his left forearm, the team announced. His status is day-to-day.
Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reports that Melanie Newman, play-by-play voice for the Baltimore Orioles, will lead the Mets/Nationals Apple TV+ broadcast of Friday Night Baseball with former outfielder Chris Young and Hannah Keyser as analysts and Brooke Fletcher as reporter.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets that Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Mickey Moniak will be sidelined for six weeks with a hairline fracture in his wrist. Moniak suffered the injury in his last spring training at-bat after hitting .371 with five home runs.
The Baltimore Orioles are working on a deal to sign pitcher Matt Harvey to a minor league deal. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that the Orioles plan to have Harvey work during extended spring training and then build him up from camp to the team.
Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports that the Cleveland Guardians have traded outfielder Bradley Zimmer to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for pitcher Anthony Castro.
During the Cincinnati Reds vs Atlanta Braves broadcast on ESPN, Joey Votto popped out to the pitcher for the first time in his career, much to the delight of analyst Tim Kurkjian.
An overjoyed, voice-cracking Tim Kurkjian can't believe he witnessed Joey Votto pop out to the pitcher (for the first time in Votto's career). 😂⚾️ pic.twitter.com/hUgmfBsKjC
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 8, 2022
Greg Prince of Faith and Fear In Flushing pens a tribute to the Brooklyn born and one-time Met, Tommy Davis, who passed away on April 3rd of this year.
Latest on MMO
MMO is giving away signed photos of former Mets Dwight Gooden, Lee Mazzilli and Ron Hunt! Each photo is 8×10 and can find them here! (Gooden, Hunt, Mazzilli). Click the links, then follow MMO on Twitter and retweet those tweets for your chance to win!
Rich Sparago discusses the new age of baseball in the National League with the introduction of the universal DH.
MMO’s recap of the Triple-A Syracuse Mets loss to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
On This Date in Mets History
1986: Mets ace Dwight Gooden would pick up his first ever Opening Day victory on this date. In a Mets 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, Gooden went the distance against the Pirates, striking out six. Keith Hernandez doubled home one in the first and another a few innings later with a single. Gary Carter and George Foster drove in runs as well.
Birthdays: Jeff McNeil (30), Eddie Kunz (36), Timo Perez (47), Pete Walker (53), Mac Scarce (73)
Let’s go Mets!
