New York Mets Addition Gives Beef To Line Up
On Friday, the New York Mets traded right-handed relief pitcher Colin Holderman to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for a former 2019 All Star that will certainly bring some 'pop' and size to the Amazin's designated hitter position. 29 year-old Daniel Vogelbach made his debut for New York on Sunday night on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. The six-foot, 270 pounder quickly became a fan favorite at Citi Field for his size and his effort.
The Mets newest addition looks more like a beer-league softball player than a Major League first-baseman or designated hitter but don't let looks fool you. #32 packs plenty of athleticism into his uniform. In Sunday night's game, ESPN pointed out that the large framed DH made it from second-base to home-plate in 8 seconds, which isn't too shabby, considering Vogelbach's size.
None of his new Mets teammates are questioning the former Pirate's skill with the bat. “I have played against Vogie since we were kids. We played against each other in the Florida travel ball circuit, in high school,” Mets first-baseman Pete Alonso told nypost.com. “I know that he’s got juice, he’s got pop in his bat, but also his plate discipline is excellent. He’s a great player. I know he is going to help us win a lot of games.”
Having spent the first seven seasons of his MLB career in Seattle, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh, the Florida native was not used to that type of home crowd enthusiasm. “That was awesome,” Vogelbach told nypost.com after the Mets’ victory in front of 39,395 at Citi Field. “I don’t know that I have played in an environment like that, at least with the home team. Pretty cool to call it my home field now.”