Mets bench mob graduate is killing baseballs with the Reds

A tweet caught my eye. For a change, it wasn’t because it was an insult directed toward another human being with no regard for someone’s feelings. It was because it involved an important member of the 2021 New York Mets bench mob.

Over at Blog Red Machine, the Cincinnati Reds version of Rising Apple, they’ve been enjoying the red hot start of Mets bench mob graduate Brandon Drury. The play-anywhere utility man is 4 for his first 10 with a pair of dingers.

Reds fans are hyped.

Mets bench mob alumni Brandon Drury may have been the best player in the group last season

Looking back at the numbers, Drury had a spectacular 2021 in the limited time he did play. Playing part-time is no easy task. He managed to hit .274/.307/.476 for the club while ripping 4 home runs and driving in 14.

Ironically enough, it was against the Reds when he had his most memorable Mets moment. July 31 wasn’t just the trade deadline last year. It was also the unofficial unraveling of the Mets. A day after the black jerseys returned, it was the game when Drury led off the bottom of the tenth with a walk-off RBI single. Thank goodness for the runner on second base to start the inning.

Drury played all over for the Mets—almost quite literally. The only three positions he didn’t play were catcher, shortstop, and center field. On August 15, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he took the mound and reminded everyone why pitchers get paid the big bucks. It’s not easy. Drury allowed a pair of earned runs in his 0.2 innings of work. Fortunately, fellow bench mob member Kevin Pillar was there to get the last out of the inning.

Drury seems to have landed on his feet after a successful stint with the Mets in 2021. And at least according to some fans over in Cincinnati, he should have a permanent roster spot on the club all season long.

He’ll have to last a while before making his next trip to Citi Field, though. The Reds don’t come to town until August 8; a date right in the middle of his walk-off single and pitching performance for New York last year. Will he still be around to see the tribute video?