Top 5 Mets leadoff hitters in franchise history

The Mets Top 5 leadoff hitters of all time # 3: Brandon Nimmo

Brandon Nimmo was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on March 27, 1993. Wyoming is a beautiful western state. It's the kind of place where they could probably give you a home where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play, but nobody plays baseball. As Wyoming is one of only three states that do not offer high school baseball, Nimmo played American Legion Baseball. The Mets scouted all of Nimmo’s Legion games and tournaments. He graduated from Cheyenne East High School and was selected by the Mets in the first round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft as the 13th overall pick. Now it was time to play some baseball.

Nimmo moved up through the minor leagues, reaching the MLB Mets in 2016. At first, scouts thought that Nimmo would only develop to be a fourth outfielder. Later, it was thought that he could be a corner outfielder. Nimmo’s goal was to be the Mets centerfielder but a stiff neck, a bruised hand, and other nagging injuries over his first few years held him back. This is when Brandon Nimmo decided that he would do whatever it takes to become the best centerfielder he could be. He took it upon himself to improve his speed, his fielding, and even pitch selection. He became the centerfielder and leadoff hitter that the team needed and was rewarded with a new eight year, $162 million contract after the 2022 season, all but guaranteeing that he would remain a Met for life.

Brandon Nimmo has some power and can usually be counted on for 15 HRs, 60 RBIs, and 90 Runs from the top of the batting order. However, his real talent lies in his ability to get on base. Nimmo is a lifetime .271 hitter but his on base percentage is .384. He has even had three seasons when his OBP was over .400. His youthful enthusiasm is real and spreads throughout the team. Nimmo may sprint to first base after a walk, pausing at the end to look to the heavens and give thanks, but no other players ever accused him of being a hot dog or trying to show them up. That’s just who he is. He is loved by the fans and players alike. I expect to see his leadoff hitter ranking improve here in the not too distant future.