Mets Community Insider

The Mets and Delta Air Lines teamed up to bring the Ya Gotta Read! program to more than 5,500 students at nine Queens elementary schools. The Mets challenged students to read one book a week for six weeks and the students were rewarded with Mets-themed prizes. In total, the students read more than 37,000 books.

The class that read the most books earned a visit by a Mets player. The third grade class at P.S. 13 read a total of 1,508 books and won a visit by Brandon Nimmo! The outfielder visited the class to congratulate the students on their achievement, read the class a book and handed out Mr. Met Kids Club prize packs.

The top readers from the nine participating schools were celebrated on the field at Citi Field before a Mets home game. Miley Quizphi read a total of 331 books which was the most of any student in the program.

The Mets and WellCare teamed up for the first Latino Leaders event at the Mary Brennan Inn in Hempstead, Long Island. The Latino Leaders program aims to motivate, cultivate and empower Latino students to become exemplary leaders in their schools and communities.

Mets players Amed Rosario and Luis Guillorme, and bullpen coach Ricky Bones worked with 10 students from Hastings High School to help prepare and serve a meal to guests at the Inn. The Mary Brennan Inn addresses the issues of hunger and homelessness on Long Island by providing food, shelter, long-term housing, and supportive services in a dignified and respectful manner for those in need.

Mets pitcher Steven Matz kicked off the first Tru32 event of the season by honoring 32 members of the Port Authority Police Department. Tru32, presented by Secure Watch 24, was a program created by the Mets and Matz to honor those heroes he admired the most, the first responders of the FDNY, NYPD, PAPD and the military. Steven and the Mets invite 32 true heroes and a guest out to the ballpark to watch batting practice, and have a special meet and greet with Matz.

The 32 members of the PAPD were selected for their dedication to public service and in keeping with their motto of pride, service and distinction. Each officer and their guest met with Steven and received a special "TRU32" t-shirt.

The Mets hosted over 80 children at Citi Field for the first Junior Mets Clinic of the season presented by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Pitchers Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo and catcher Tomas Nido ran the children through a series of hitting, throwing and fielding drills at the ballpark. Each child received an exclusive Junior Mets t-shirt and tickets to a future Mets game. The children at the clinic represented youth baseball leagues selected as part of SNY's Play Ball initiative.

The monthly clinic run by Mets players and coaches gives local youth from all five boroughs a chance to learn how to hit, field and pitch from the pros.