Mets, And Fans, Lucky to Have Found Nimmo

Brandon Nimmo isn’t going to the Hall of Fame. He has never even made an All Star team. Nor did he really even had a signature postseason moment during his 10 year Mets career. But Nimmo will still go down as one of the most unique players in recent Mets history, a favorite of both fans and teammates alike.

Whether or not you support the shocking trade of Nimmo to the Texas Rangers, it’s clear that his value to the Mets franchise and fanbase exceeds statistics and accolades. He was the closest thing to Mr. Met over the last decade aside from the actual mascot. The 32-year-old outfielder had been in the Mets organization for nearly half his life, and on the big league club for the 10 seasons, He played in over 1,000 games for the Mets, one of just 11 players in franchise history to reach that milestone.

Upon being drafted by the Mets in 2011, Nimmo generated more discussion among Mets fans than the usual draft pick. Not only because he was taken surprisingly high, with the 13th pick, but also because he was from Wyoming, a state that didn’t even have high school baseball. ”We weren’t interested in making the safest pick,” said Mets amateur scouting director Chad MacDonald after the Mets took Nimmo. “We were interested in making the pick that had the best chance to make the biggest impact.”

After completing his improbable run from Wyoming to the majors in 2016 Nimmo started making an impact, even if it wasn’t immediately on the field. He quickly garnered attention for his constant smile on the diamond, a rarity even among grown men being paid handsomely to play baseball for a living. He became known for his signature sprint to first base after a walk, something not even seen in Little League. As players came and went, and the team’s performance ebbed and flowed, Nimmo was the constant presence as a clubhouse leader.

“I love Brandon Nimmo,” said David Wright after his number retirement last July, when asked who should be considered as the Mets next captain. “I tell my son all the time, ‘That’s how you should play the game.” You can’t get much higher praise than those words from The Captain.

While his enthusiasm, professionalism and hustle are what set him apart, Nimmo’s performance on the diamond for the Mets wasn’t half-bad either. After earning an every-day role in 2018 he broke out with a .886 OPS (148 OPS+) and 4.6 bWAR, plus a league leading 22 hit-by-pitches (and sprinted to first after most of them). During the first half of his Mets career Nimmo displayed an uncanny ability to get on base however possible. His OBP was over .400 in 2018, 2020 and 2021. All while competently, if not spectacularly, manning center field most games.

Over the past few seasons Nimmo sacrificed much of his on-base prowess in exchange for more power. He hit at least 23 homers in each of his last three seasons in New York. In 2025, his final season with the Mets, Nimmo mashed 25 homers and 92 RBI, both career-highs, though his OBP slipped to a career-low .324.

Despite always seemingly battling an injury he was a staple in the lineup the past few years, playing 150-plus games in each season from 2022 to 2025. Nimmo was so much considered a key part of the Mets plans that he was included in owner Steve Cohen’s, “Fab Four,” just last year, along with superstars Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso.

Even if his offensive stats were never eye-popping, and his defense regressed, Nimmo goes into the Mets history books as one of the franchise’s most consistent and productive everyday players. His 26.1 bWAR is eighth among Mets position players all time. His .364 OBP is sixth highest among Mets with at least 3,000 plate appearances, and his 135 home runs ranks ninth in team history.

When Nimmo signed an eight-year, $162 million contract in 2022, it seemed pretty certain that he would be a Met for life. “To be able to start your career with someone, to be able to finish your career with the same team, that’s something really special,” he said at the time. “Not many players get to do that.”

That didn’t end up happening, but Brandon Nimmo’s time with the Mets was still pretty special.

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