Rosario to finally make big Citi debut
DENVER — His home debut is all about family for Amed Rosario. His family and his Mets family. And bringing excitement and athleticism back to Citi Field.
After a three-game spin at Coors Field, and a weird wild pitch/walk walkoff 5-4 loss to the Rockies on Thursday, Rosario is more than ready to get home and give Mets fans a show at shortstop Friday night against the Amazin’ Dodgers.
Rosario’s home debut will have to stand in as a substitute for playoff action for the Mets with the hope there will be a brighter tomorrow next season. Rosario, who wears No. 1, is a huge piece of that tomorrow. “He’s a talented kid,’’ manager Terry Collins said, offering this preview to the fans. “He’s got great speed. Tremendous athleticism. He’s going to be a good player.’’ Rosario tripled for the second straight day in the loss, becoming the first Met to have two triples in his first three games and also made a perfect, no-wastedmotion relay throw to get DJ LeMahieu at third in the seventh. A shortstop debut has not been this exciting around the Mets since the days Jose Reyes made his home debut June 20, 2003 at Shea Stadium in the Subway Series against the Yankees.
“I’m very excited to play at home tomorrow just because my family is going to be there and I think that’s a dream,’’ Rosario said through an interpreter.
Rosario said his father, German, an attorney and then a judge in the Dominican Republic, and his three sisters will attend the game. One sister was visiting him in Las Vegas when he was called up and lives in New York.
He’s ready for his opening act on Broadway and all the hubbub.
“I think I have a decent idea of what’s going to happen tomorrow,’’ Rosario said.
Rosario, 21, is not the nervous type. He has handled his promotion in a seamless manner and has been given some strong advice by Reyes.
“I told him, just like me, you made your debut away from home but when you get to New York it’s going to be different, everything,’’ Reyes told The Post.
Reyes made his major league debut June 10, 2003 in Texas, the start of a 10game road trip. “Plus we’re playing the Dodgers, so it’s going to be crazy. But he’s fine,” Reyes said. “He told me the first day, the day he debuted, he expected to be a little bit nervous, but he said, ‘I was fine.’ That was good to hear.’’
Here is the key advice Reyes gave Rosario about playing in New York.
“One thing you never do is put your head down,’’ Reyes explained. “Remember, you are going to make mistakes because nobody is perfect, but when that happens, don’t put your head down. Come to the park with the same attitude. Because you are going to be here a long time and you are going to play every day. That’s baseball. He listens to me.’’
Rosario has taken that positive approach to heart.
A home debut is much different than a road debut.
“There is no preparing for that,’’ Collins said. “You can’t possibly, you’ve got to experience it.’’
The Mets prefer their youngsters debut on the road. It’s a good place to start and prepare for the home crowd and all the attention.
As for his own home debut with the Mets, Reyes said with a smile, “That was a wow. That was the week we played the Yankees. I never get nervous but I was nervous to play against [Derek] Jeter and stuff. My heart was beating hard.’’
You can expect Rosario’s heart to be beating hard come Friday’s first pitch.
Reyes has done a wonderful job mentoring Rosario over the past year, the veteran shortstop giving way to the young dude. They share similar traits, love triples, and Rosario is making all the plays at short Reyes once made. They both even wear a beard.
“He’s got the better beard,’’ Reyes said, stroking his beard. “It’s fuller. I give that to him.’’
Welcome to the Amed Rosario Show at Citi Field. The kid has the beard and shortstop covered.