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3 NY Mets players who’ve helped confirm they found their new Grimace last Sunday

Pablo Sanchez is becoming a Mets legend with these three players doing the winning on his behalf.
ByTim Boyle|
Jul 23, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (6) hits a double against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Jul 23, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (6) hits a double against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
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Not all heroes wear capes. Some are nude, large, and purple like Grimace. Others are a little more big-headed and round like the newest good luck charm of the New York Mets, Pablo Sanchez.

A baseball legend of the early 2000s, he appeared at Citi Field last Sunday in the club’s first win of the second half. The Cincinnati Reds took games one and two before New York managed to steal away a victory. No one thought anything of Pablo (I can call him that, we go way back) until they rattled off three straight against the Los Angeles Angels. Big deal. They’re not good. What about the San Francisco Giants on the road?

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. The Mets have been unbeatable since Backyard Baseball’s best player saved them from tanking in the second half. Well, he has gotten a little help. These three players have been his Avengers.

1) Starling Marte

Starling Marte is a little fresher to the bandwagon, but he has been unstoppable since his IL return. Now 6 for 10 with 3 doubles, 2 walks, and a single strikeout, he’s working his way into being the DH solution the Mets need; at least in some situations.

Marte is spreading out the wealth with three games of 2 hits since his return. His season totals have surprisingly risen to a .289/.372/.416 slash line on the season. The exceptionally high OBP for a player who has never been a big on-base guy is a great reward for the Mets who could use more guys on base in the middle and bottom of their batting order.

Dismissed at the start of the season as a veteran bench piece who could handle himself against some lefties, Marte is handling himself just fine against righties, too. I admittedly had to do a double-take to see his splits are just about even. He’s hitting .289/.372/.421 versus lefties. Against righties he’s at .289/.372/.412.

The lack of power the Mets are getting out of Marte isn’t a big deal when he’s reaching base at such a high rate. Sure, we’d love a DH who can hammer home runs. We’ll take the doubles.

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