New York Mets award winners for April 2023

The past week has been a rough one for our favorite baseball team. A four-game losing streak quickly took the shine off a stellar West Coast road trip, and Mother Nature's unwillingness to cooperate with the New York Mets returning home has only left the team and its fans to stew in their discontent.

Though it may not seem like a time to celebrate, having a winning record, even this early in the season, means the Mets have their destiny in their hands. The team has overcome myriad hardships already, and despite not playing its best baseball, is right in the thick of things. Let's celebrate what's gone right in this young season with some awards, shall we?

The "Strong Like Bull" award goes to Mets slugger Pete Alonso

What can you say about the Mets' powerful first baseman that hasn't already been said about Paul Bunyan? Alonso trails only the Dodgers' Max Muncy for the league lead in homers, and he's been the lone source of power in a Mets lineup that has struggled to hit the ball over the fence. Alonso is one of just a handful of players whose every at-bat is must-see TV.

The "Worth Every Penny" award goes to Brandon Nimmo

After signing an eight-year, $162 million contract this offseason, the pressure was on Brandon Nimmo to show that he could live up to such a lofty payday. Not only has he justified Steve Cohen's largesse, he's proven himself to be an absolute bargain, playing a sterling center field while hitting .330 at the top of the lineup and leading the Mets in OPS+.

The "Ready for the Big Leagues" award goes to Brett Baty

With Eduardo Escobar mired in an early season slump, the entire fanbase was clamoring for Brett Baty to get called up. Baty was better than prime Babe Ruth at AAA Syracuse to start the year, but he struggled at the plate once he got called up on April 17th, starting just 2-13 in his first four games. Since then though, Baty has hit safely in five out of six games, including his best game as a major leaguer, a 3-3 effort against the Nationals that included his first homer of the year. He's also looked great at third base, flashing a big arm while committing only one error. Baty is going to be a Flushing mainstay for years to come.

The "Edwin Diaz Impersonator" award goes to David Robertson

Identity theft is a serious crime, but Mets fans will forgive David Robertson for so capably mimicking the best closer in baseball as he recovers from a freak knee injury. The 16-year vet has allowed just a single run all year, holding opposing batters to a paltry .135 average. One can only imagine what the Mets would look like with both Robertson and Diaz finishing games, but for now, Robertson's dominance has helped the Mets bullpen flourish despite Diaz's absence.

The "Filthiest Pitch" award goes to Kodai Senga's ghost fork

Kodai Senga has struggled with control in his first month in the big leagues, but his fabled ghost fork pitch has been every bit as nasty as advertised. Opposing hitters have managed only three singles against the pitch in Senga's four starts, striking out 17 times against it in that span. Senga is still adjusting to the differences between the majors and Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league, but the ghost fork may be the most evil thing to come out of Japan since Ganondorf.

Congratulations to all the winners of our first monthly awards of the season! The Mets will look to keep pace with the Braves as May gets under way, and we'll surely see some fresh faces in the winner's circle when we check in a month from now. Who will be the Mets' top performers in May?