The Mets were originally scheduled to play the Marlins at San Juan’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium in April, so I thought it was the right time to take a look down south.
Puerto Rico has a rich baseball heritage, and several Puerto Rican ballplayers have left an indelible mark on Mets history.
These are the best Puerto Ricans to suit up for the Amazin’s:
Carlos Beltrán
Beltrán is easily the best Puerto Rican player to ever don the orange and blue. Beltrán amassed eye-popping numbers with the Mets, but his style of play was also an aesthetic marvel. He possessed an effortless swing from both sides of the plate, and was one of the game’s most graceful center fielders. His ascent to the top of Tal’s Hill in Houston to catch a fly ball defied belief, as did his catch to rob a home run while a bird flew directly overhead.
While some fans remain unfairly fixated on his strikeout to end the 2006 NLCS, Beltrán hit three home runs against the Cardinals and was one of the few Mets who performed well in the series. Beltrán made five All-Star appearances with the Amazin’s and drove in 100 or more runs in each season from 2006 to 2008.
Carlos Delgado
The addition of Delgado prior to the 2006 season transformed the Mets from a postseason hopeful to a National League powerhouse. Delgado was one of the most fearsome sluggers of his generation, and he remained productive when he arrived in Flushing prior to his age-34 season.
The first baseman slugged 38 home runs and collected 114 RBIs in his first season in Queens, joining forces with fellow Puerto Rican Carlos Beltrán to form an imposing heart of the order for the Mets. He bounced back from a disappointing 2007 campaign and an underwhelming first half in 2008 to post a .991 OPS after the 2008 All-Star break. Delgado’s most notable achievements in Flushing included a 9-RBI performance against the Yankees that broke the franchise’s single-game record for runs driven in.
Delgado finished his MLB career with 473 home runs, the most ever by a player born in Puerto Rico.
Pedro Feliciano
Feliciano was a bullpen mainstay in the Omar Minaya era, serving as the Mets’ go-to lefty specialist. When fearsome left-handed sluggers like Ryan Howard or Chase Utley strode to the plate in a late-inning situation, it was Feliciano who was called in from the pen. The southpaw’s sweeping slider was a reliable weapon, allowing him to miss bats and induce weak grounders to the right side of the infield.
Because he was usually called upon for a single out, Feliciano racked up a staggering amount of appearances. He pitched in 266 games from 2008 to 2010, leading the majors in appearances in each of those seasons. Feliciano was used so often, in fact, that Gary Cohen appropriately dubbed him “Perpetual Pedro.” The reliever’s 92 appearances in 2010 remain a Mets single-season record.
José Valentín
When the perpetually underperforming Kaz Matsui was traded to the Rockies in June of 2006, Valentín became the Mets everyday second baseman. The switch-hitter was yet another solid piece of the Mets lineup, and his surprising offensive performance proved that the Mets were right to part with Matsui. The 36-year old enjoyed an offensive resurgence in 2006, and he even clobbered two home runs in the division clincher against the Marlins.
Ángel Pagán
Though never a star in his time with the Mets, Pagán was a speedy outfielder who displayed flashes of five-tool talent. At his best, Pagán resembled a younger version of his then-teammate Carlos Beltrán. Pagán hit .306 over 88 games in 2009 and .290 over 151 games the following season. Among his most memorable Mets moments was a 2010 game when he initiated a triple play and hit an inside-the-park home run.
Félix Millán
Millán was a light-hitting but sure-handed second baseman most known for how far he choked up on the bat. On July 21st 1975, Mets third baseman Joe Torre set a major league record by grounding into four double plays. Torre thanked Millán for making the dubious accomplishment possible, as Millán hit one spot ahead of Torre and had singled in each of his four at-bats.
Searle’s Final Say
I’m immensely disappointed that the Mets will not be able to visit Puerto Rico this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The island has produced countless talented baseball players over the years, and Puerto Ricans have already had a major impact on Mets history. I sincerely hope that the Amazin’s will be able to travel there sometime in the near future. It’s always exciting when our Metsies get to play in new parts of this great country of ours.
