The best Mets player to wear number 15

Number 15 has been a very popular choice for New York Mets players as of late as four different Mets have worn it since the start of the 2020 season. Some notable Mets to wear the number include Jerry Grote, Al Jackson, George Foster, and even Ron Darling wore it for a couple of years.

The best Met to have worn number 15 is Carlos Beltran.

Carlos Beltran signed a seven-year $119 million dollar deal with the Mets back in the 2004 offseason. It was the richest deal in Mets history at the time. The Mets were getting a proven top-end player in Beltran to try and lead the Mets back into the postseason.

Carlos Beltran is the best Mets player to wear number 15

Beltran's 6.5 seasons as a Met had its ups and downs for sure. He's most remembered for watching Adam Wainwright spin a curveball for a strike to end the Mets 2006 season. However, in my opinion there were more ups than downs. In that series alone Beltran hit three home runs in 27 at bats including a two home run game in Game 4 to even the series.

Overall, Beltran slashed .280/.369/.500 with 149 home runs and 559 RBI in 839 games as a Met. His best season came in the 2006 season when he hit 41 home runs with 116 RBI. He was an all-star, won a Gold Glove, won a Silver Slugger, and finished fourth in the National League MVP balloting. The home runs and RBI both were career highs for Beltran and the 41 long balls tied a single season Mets record with Todd Hundley before Pete Alonso broke it in 2019.

Beltran is one of the more complete hitters the Mets have ever had. He could hit for average, hit for power, had speed, and played an unbelievable center field. Beltran stole as many as 25 bases as a Met and won three straight Gold Gloves from 2006-2008.

Beltran is in the top 10 in just about every important offensive statistical category and is the best center fielder in Mets history. If he does end up making it into the Hall of Fame he will likely go in as a member of the Mets.