Former Mets general manager Omar Minaya, spoke to Kristie Ackert of the Daily News in Cincinnati, after she spotted him chatting with All-Star Jacob deGrom.
“I just told him good luck,” Minaya said, “and that we’re proud of you.”
Minaya said deGrom’s athleticism was why they thought he’d progress quickly as a pitcher.
Minaya, who drafted deGrom, said he was “not surprised” at him being named an All Star. “He is so athletic.”
In a separate interview with SNY.tv, Minaya was asked what it felt like to see Jacob deGrom pitch in the 2015 All-Star game.
“I see a guy who the scouts drafted and developed. I think about Rudy Terrasas and the other scouts who were really responsible for drafting him, I remember that day in the draft room like it was yesterday.”
“I’m happy for him, I’m always happy for kids who make the All-Star team, especially when you had a hand in it in some shape or form.”
Asked to comment on the success of an impressive Mets rotation largely made of players drafted during his tenure as GM, Minaya stayed classy as ever.
“I’m just so happy. I think it’s a victory for the entire organization. It’s a credit to the people that drafted him, for the people that developed him, to the front office that’s in place now, and of course the front office that selected him.”
“And let’s face it, we’re not talking about number four or number five type starters here… these are all pretty good pitchers. We’re talking about front line guys. So yes, it’s a victory for the organization.”
(Photo: Kristie Ackert)
