The reigning National League-champion Mets are headed to the postseason for the second consecutive year after winning the first NL Wild Card. As this will be the first time that many fans across the Majors will be focusing on their roster, here's our attempt to learn the origins of closer Jeurys Familia.
Jeurys Familia, RHP
Born: Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic
DOB: 10/10/89
HS: Liceo Analilian Miranda (D.R.)
Minors: GCL Mets (R), Brooklyn (A-), Savannah (A), St. Lucie (A+), Binghamton (AA), Buffalo (AAA), Las Vegas (AAA)
:: Before they were postseason-bound: Select a player ::
Path to New York: Familia signed with the Mets as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2007.
Trophy case: All-Star in 2016.
Famous feat(s): Familia converted 52 consecutive regular-season saves from Aug. 1, 2015, to July 27, the third-longest streak streak in MLB history.
"I always think in my mind I'm going to end the game, I'm going to give it the best I can for a win," Familia said during the streak.
You might not know: Familia was primarily a starter coming up through the Mets' organization. He made 111 Minor League starts and one Major League start before he was converted to a reliever in 2012.
Six degrees of Willie Aikens: Familia played for the World Team in the 2010 All-Star Futures Game alongside former Mets teammate Alex Torres and other big leaguers, including Brett Lawrie, Henderson Alvarez, Julio Teheran and Yonder Alonso.
Jeurys Jr.: Jeurys Familia Jr. was born while his father worked out of a bases-loaded, ninth-inning jam on June 12, 2015. Familia induced a game-ending double play, then promptly rushed to the hospital.
Rookie record: Familia established the franchise rookie record for holds (23) and appearances (76).