ST. PETERSBURG -- Nick Morabito didn’t start the Mets’ series finale against the Rays on Wednesday, but once he entered, he became the star of the show.
In the seventh inning, Morabito recorded his first MLB hit -- a three-run double, no less -- that was the game-changing knock in the Mets’ 10-4 victory in the rubber match of their three-game series against the best team in the American League at Tropicana Field.
In the ninth inning, Morabito picked up a clean line-drive single to center. In between those hits, the Mets’ No. 13 prospect showcased why speed and outfield defense are his top tools as he made a fantastic diving catch to close the bottom of the eighth.
This was The Nick Morabito Game, and it didn’t include Nick Morabito until he came on in the sixth inning as a pinch-runner.
“It's really cool,” Morabito said. “I'm glad that I was able to do all that today, and it was fun. It was a lot of fun.”
Morabito went without a hit in his first six MLB games, spanning 12 at-bats. But that period also spanned more than three months as the 23-year-old’s introduction to the big leagues in May lasted just one week before he was sent back to Triple-A Syracuse.
Despite the lack of success at the plate, Morabito still enjoyed that initial experience and called those first seven days in the bigs a “learning point.” That week gave him an idea of what he needed to work on in advance of his next chance at the game’s highest level.
That chance arrived when rosters expanded on Tuesday. An opportunity to get rid of that 0-for-12 presented itself in the seventh inning. Morabito took full advantage.
Morabito admitted that still not having a hit on his ledger was weighing on him when he stepped into the box against Rays reliever Manuel Rodríguez with the bases loaded. He fell behind 0-2 before drawing the count level, then hooking a 96 mph sinker from Rodríguez just inside the left-field line to clear the bases and extend the Mets’ lead to 9-4.
“Glad I finally got my first one out the way,” Morabito said.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Morabito became the first Mets player to record at least three RBIs on his first Major League hit since Jordany Valdespin hit a three-run homer against the Phillies on May 7, 2012.
“That was super cool,” said fellow rookie outfielder A.J. Ewing of his teammate’s big night. “Nick's a guy that is not only a teammate but one of my best friends, and a guy that I hang out with in the offseason. Seeing the work that he's put in show up on the big stage, it's super cool to watch that.”
Morabito said the ball from his first hit will probably end up with his parents. No word on if he still has the ball from his highlight-reel catch in the eighth.
Morabito got a good jump on a fly ball from Rays outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. that was tailing toward the left-field line. Running at 30.1 feet per second -- 30.0 is considered elite -- Morabito got close enough to make an all-out dive and snag the ball just before it hit the turf.
Do the Mets have another psychopath in their outfield?
“He definitely fits the mold, for sure,” Ewing said.
Morabito said he was “definitely feeling some relief” when he came up in the ninth inning. That monkey was off his back. So why not immediately follow your first hit with your second? Facing All-Star closer Bryan Baker, Morabito smacked a 2-2 changeup on a line into the outfield. Baker’s changeup had held opposing hitters to a .157 average (16-for-102) this season. They had struck out against it 33% of the time.
But on this night, nothing was beating Morabito.
“It was great,” he said. “Most importantly, we came out with the win.”