NEW YORK — It was a therapeutic hitting session between friends, two members of the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies who were slumping at the time. On a random off-day, Jake Mangum and Brett Baty hit and hit and hit, until they felt better about their swings.
Before facing each other Saturday at Citi Field, Mangum and Baty were friends and roommates in the Mets’ Minor League system, experiencing myriad ups and downs together before New York traded Mangum to the Marlins in December 2022.
“Just talking to him about hitting was probably my favorite stuff,” Mangum said. “Good friendship. He’s a close friend of mine. We’re gonna stay close the rest of our lives. Good person. Great guy.”
And an honorary Pittsburgher. Baty’s wife, Anna, actually graduated from North Allegheny, while he was also high school teammates with Jared Triolo growing up in Austin, Texas. Because his wife is from Pittsburgh, Brett Baty spent part of his offseason training in the city.
Baty and Triolo both attended Lake Travis High School, the former a freshman when the latter was a senior and team captain. When a few players started giving Baty grief for being a freshman on the varsity squad, Triolo took Baty under his wing and made him feel comfortable.
It’s something Baty appreciates to this day.
“He’s a real good dude, for sure,” Baty said.
Triolo remembers Baty as “a really good basketball player.” He was also the son of a coach. Clint Baty retired in 2023 after 17 years and a career record of 394-170 at Lake Travis.
“I know our families are still pretty close,” Triolo said. “They keep in touch a lot. Seeing him over there, getting to talk to him a little bit, see how he’s liking New York, it’s cool.”
The three friends met on the field prior to Opening Day. There’s also plenty of mutual respect for one another, because of what they’ve done through around baseball.
Asked about Mangum — or “Mango,” as he calls his former roommate — Baty said what he respected most was the Pirates outfielder being a grinder, the same way manager Don Kelly often describes Mangum, Triolo and others.
Just simple, hardworking guys who love the game.
No wonder they found each other another.
“He’s someone you really want to have on your team,” Baty said of Mangum. “He’s gonna lay it on the line every single night. He would bring baseball home. We were always watching video. He can’t get enough of it, which I love.
“[Triolo] is the same way. I love both of those guys, for sure.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH.