Mar 8, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Harrison Bader (22) looks on against the St. Louis Cardinals at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Spring Training-St. Louis Cardinals at New York Yankees
(Queens, NY) – After playing part of the the past two seasons in the Bronx, Harrison Bader is on the other side of town with the New York Mets.
But he’d be no stranger to the Big Apple even if he’d never put on the pinstripes. Bader, born and raised in Bronxville, New York, couldn’t be happier to be staying in the Empire State. “I’m extremely excited to stay in the city I love,” Bader told the MLB Network. The defensive whiz added, “I’ve always been a fan of New York and New York sports. I’m looking forward to the season coming up, it’s an incredible opportunity for me and I’m extremely thankful.”
For Mets fans who have been disappointed with the club’s relatively quiet offseason, Bader’s acquisition may not have brought on much excitement. To be sure, his offensive production has never quite resembled the force he was in college during three seasons with the Florida Gators, when he batted .313 with 20 HR and 36 steals. During his time with the St. Louis Cardinals and Yankees, Bader has shown impressive speed (77 career SB) and some pop (59 career HR) – but he’s never batted above .300, with a .243 career batting average.
But truthfully, Bader’s calling card is his range and ability with the glove in center. And, he’s hopeful that being reunited with one of his former Gators teammates will lead to even greater things. Nicknamed the “Diesel Bros.”, Bader and Mets slugger Pete Alonso batted back-to-back in the order during part of their time at the University of Florida. “Pete’s my guy, I think I’m already locker mates with him in spring training and for the regular season. His approach, his energy, his focus and just how calm and poised he is at all times are all things I’m going to latch onto,” Baer explained. “I’ve played with some big-time first basemen in my career and he’s reminiscent of all of them, so I’m extremely excited to be back with him.”
And Alonso isn’t the only former clubhouse-mate awaiting Bader in Queens. His new skipper Carlos Mendoza was the Yankees bench coach during Bader’s first stint in New York. Mendoza, like Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, is likely most focused on Bader’s defense.
The former 29-year-old Gold Glove winner can change games with his defense, and says he just wants to contribute anyway he can: “Regardless of if you’re guaranteed the whole world or just a slice of it, you have to show up every day with one intention, and that’s to be the best version of yourself on that field for yourself and your teammates. I’m just taking things day by day. If there’s a game going on I want to be plugged in, help the team win, and do some cool stuff on all sides of the baseball. I’m just focused on that and letting the process take care of itself, and I know it’ll result in me helping this team win.”
