SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Brandon Nimmo walked up to fellow outfielder Michael Helman with a green box in hand.
As Helman took in the situation, the surprise was clearly written on his face.
“No, no, seriously, no,” Helman said in a video Nimmo posted on Instagram on Sunday night.
Inside that green box was a brand new Rolex, which Nimmo gifted him for allowing him to steal No. 24 this season. Helman said that Nimmo had been asking around for things he might like in return for the number. Helman, ever the gentleman, said he would have been fine with a simple dinner, but is grateful for the pricier gift he received instead.
Nimmo -- who joined the Rangers via a trade that sent Marcus Semien to the Mets -- wore No. 9 his entire big league career in New York. No. 24 was retired for Willie Mays in Queens. Helman said he didn’t have much of an attachment to No. 24 anyway and didn’t hesitate to give it up even if he wasn’t going to get anything in return. He wore No. 92 with the Twins in 2024.
“Thanks for 24” is engraved on the inside.