2 Mets players that became folk heroes this season, 1 who can join them

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May 18, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar supports teammates after he was hit in the face with a ball suffering a nasal fracture the night before against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Becoming a New York Mets folk hero requires a couple of factors. I believe you need to have at least one moment every fan thinks about whenever they hear the player’s name. It’s usually a singular moment or attribute associated with the player.

Star players aren’t quite at folk hero status because they give us a lot more than just one triumph. It’s a spot reserved for the second-tier players on a baseball team. Already, through this early part of the 2021 season, I think the Mets have a pair of them. By year’s end, we may have another.

Kevin Pillar became a Mets folk hero in the most painful way possible

What will we always think of when we hear the name Kevin Pillar after this season? It’s going to be Pillar taking a fastball to the face!

Anyone can do that. It was Pillar’s toughness that raised him from veteran outfielder with a bruised up face to a legendary member of Mets folklore.

Seeing Pillar’s face was painful enough. The blood. The bruises. A lesser man may not have picked himself up so quickly as Pillar did after taking the ball to the face.

Pillar’s story with the Mets is far from over and how he recovers from this hit by pitch will tell us a lot about where he falls in Mets folk hero history. Does he become one of those guys that suffered a devastating injury and toughed it out to get back on the field to help his team only to not give them much? I don’t think so. Instead, I’m expecting Pillar to pick up where he left off and give the Mets some much-needed production while the rest of his teammates recover on the IL.

May 11, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pinch hitter Patrick Mazeika (L) is congratulated by shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) after a walk-off fielders choice during the bottom of the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Patrick Mazeika became a Mets folk hero with clutch fielder’s choices

Where do we begin with Patrick Mazeika? The most clutch man in sports and entertainment, he is the definition of a baseball folk hero.

In only his second plate appearance of the year, Mazeika drove in the winning run on a pinch-hit fielder’s choice in the bottom of the tenth inning. He would knock in the eventual winning run two days later then follow up with yet another walk-off win via fielder’s choice two days after that.

The most exciting play in baseball is probably the inside-the-park home run. Watching a player dash across every base and make it home safely without the ball leaving the yard can get even the laziest of fans to stand up out of their seats. Somehow, Mazeika made fielder’s choices fun.

An ill-fitting player on the Mets from the start because of his defensive limitations at catcher and first base, Mazeika seemed to luck into some moments with the team. I’m not yet sure what the future holds for him with this franchise. However, we do know one thing:

Years from now, whenever the Mets are in the bottom half of the last inning with a man on third base, we’re going to all agree who we want at the plate. His name is Patrick Mazeika, the magic man of 2021.

May 18, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets catcher Tomas Nido (3) hits a solo home run during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Tomas Nido has had had his moments but for folk hero status, he needs to do it late in the season

Not yet a Mets folk hero, Tomas Nido is well on his way to becoming one. I think because we have seen Nido in the past, it’s a little harder for me to bestow this honor upon him. Through several seasons of ups and downs, Nido is finally beginning to prove just how awesome he can be this year. If it lasts, folk hero status is certainly in his future.

To his credit, Nido has already come up with some huge home runs for the Mets. He broke a tie with the Atlanta Braves down in Georgia with a late dinger and another with the Colorado Rockies more recently.

This year appears to be Nido’s breakout season. Due to starting catcher James McCann’s underperformance at the plate, he’s seeing a lot more action. It has allowed him to have moments like these. The more he hits, the more Luis Rojas is having trouble taking him out of the lineup.

Backup catchers are perfect candidates to become a folk hero. They represent the common man and woman. Usually found sitting on the sidelines, when called upon, they need to be at the top of their game.

Nido has done more than expected of him this year. Folk hero status is only a late-season clutch home run away from happening.

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Picture it: Citi Field, October 2021. Tomas Nido is at the plate. A long drive puts the game in the books. The man becomes a Mets legend.

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