NY Mets backup catcher option is giving us a reason to root for him to make the team

Only a few days ago, Hayden Senger got a short little tribute on Rising Apple in favor of why he could be a viable candidate to take on the task of being the Opening Day backup catcher for the New York Mets. Less than 24 hours later, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo shared a little more background on Senger and a reason why fans should root for him to make the team.

Senger is a defense-first catcher who has hit a little bit in the minor leagues. He’s essentially Tomas Nido, but with no official ETA to the majors because of an obvious ceiling. All he needs is a chance and the injury to Francisco Alvarez is one of those opportunities.

An intriguing player on the field, DiComo’s story is about what he does away from it. Senger works at Whole Foods stocking shelves in the mornings during the offseason, displaying both an old-school lifestyle led by ball players but also an everyman reality of being a lifelong minor league player.

If you want to root for a winner for the Mets backup catcher spot, pick Hayden Senger

Nothing against Jakson Reetz or Chris Williams. I’m sure they kiss their grandmothers, smile at babies, and have their taxes done before April. Familiarity with Senger through his years spent with the Mets organization already had me marking out for him above those two newcomers. Results this spring, with none of the three hitting particularly well, have me leaning more toward the mystery of Senger simply out of appreciation for his work ethic and what an awesome story it’ll be.

Reaching the majors for any amount of time has lifestyle benefits aside from just being able to impress friends and family. While Senger is a long way from ten years of service time that essentially allows him an opportunity to never step inside another Whole Foods ever again (he could send his butlers), a single day on the active roster will provide him with lifetime health insurance. 

Retirement benefits are probably not on Senger’s mind at the moment. He’s still fighting an uphill battle just to get to the major leagues at all. It’s his livelihood. This is the dream he had from the moment he picked up a wiffle ball bat before even the terrible twos set in as a toddler.

As DiComo states within the story, Senger is regarded as one of the top defensive catchers in the minor leagues. In the absence of Alvarez, offense would be nice but not necessary when one or two starts a week is all he’d get. The majority of starts will be placed on Luis Torrens. Fortunately, with added off-days built into the early weeks, the toll shouldn’t be too harsh on him. Who’ll be the one to help give him a day off? The battle rages on with Senger getting a vote of sentimentality.