Ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Jets’ wide receiver Garrett Wilson threw the first pitch to Mets third baseman Brett Baty.
The two athletes were teammates in a Pop Warner football league in Texas when they were in sixth grade. That era made them good friends and now two of New York’s most exciting young players.
Wilson wore Baty’s No. 22 jersey while the Mets infielder wore Wilson’s Jets No. 17 jersey as they represented both franchises on Wednesday night.
Check out Wilson throwing the first pitch to Baty from Citi Field.
Wilson was drafted 10th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Jets and quickly became one of Gang Green’s most powerful offensive weapons. During his rookie season, Wilson caught 83 passes for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns en route to the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Baty – after injury cut short his time with the Mets in 2022 – is now on the roster as the team’s daily third baseman after starting the season as a minor and with Eduardo Escobar struggling on the plate to start the year. This season, the 23-year-old is cutting .243/.313/.391 with four home runs and 15 RBIs.
“It’s surreal [to be in New York together]”Wilson told SNY’s Steve Gelbs on the show. “It’s crazy how small the world is in the biggest city in the world playing the sports we love… See [Baty’s] success is so exciting and being able to sustain it means everything to me.
When Wilson was drafted to the Jets, the Mets wide and infielder spoke about their childhood together and how they will support each other in New York.
“I never followed the Jets in my life, now I’m one of the biggest Jets fans,” Baty said when Wilson was drafted by New York. “I can’t get over the fact that he’s going to be a New York Jet.”
“When he plays his first game, I’ll definitely be in the stands,” Wilson said last season before Baty was called up. “I did my research. I always loved Francois Lindor. I will have no problem rooting for the Mets and then Brett will make it happen.