Nimmo sets the table with a smile for the Mets

It wasn’t that long ago that Brandon Nimmo was looked upon in some corners as a fourth outfielder. Critics argued that his .260 batting average and below grade defense in center field made him nothing but a back-up with a big grin.

But with an adjustment in positioning in 2022 and the growing realization that leadoff hitters with pop and a lifetime on-base percentage of .385 don’t grow on trees, Nimmo became an attractive commodity on last winter’s free agent market. The New York Mets ponied up, resigning him to an eightyear, $162 million contract.

And now it’s time for the affable Wyoming native to live up to it. He was solid in his walk year in ‘22, batting .274 with 16 home runs, 71 walks, 102 runs scored, an on-base percentage of .367 and an OPS of an even .800.

But arguably his most memorable moment of the season came on defense. In the Mets’ home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 31, Nimmo’s leap at the fence to haul in a would-be Justin Turner home run preserved an important victory against a possible playoff opponent and caused the Citi Field faithful to erupt in hysterics. Caught up in the moment, Nimmo thrust his fist in the air, his smile wider than ever.

As 2023 gets going, it seems the only thing that might hold Nimmo back is injury. He missed significant time in 2019 and 2021 but the Mets are betting his full 2022 campaign will be more representative of his reliability going forward.

Full name: Brandon Tate

Nimmo

Birth date: March 27, 1993

Birthplace: Cheyenne, Wyo.

Height/weight: 6 feet, 3 inches/206 pounds

Teams: New York Mets (2016-present)

Position: Center fielder Bats/throws: Left/right No.: 9

Honors and achievements: National League triples leader (2022; career stats – .269 average with 63 homers, 213 RBIs, 335 runs, an on-base percentage of .385 and OPS of .827

Did you know: Nimmo never played high school baseball as Wyoming is one of three states that do not offer it; he did, however, star in American Legion ball

Tuesday

6 p.m. TBS Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox. (Live)

6:30 p.m. BSMW Los Angeles Angels at St. Louis Cardinals. (Live)

12 a.m. BSMW Los Angeles Angels at St. Louis Cardinals.

Wednesday

6 a.m. BSMW Los Angeles Angels at St. Louis Cardinals.

12 p.m. BSMW Los Angeles Angels at St. Louis Cardinals.

6:30 p.m. BSMW Los Angeles Angels at St. Louis Cardinals. (Live)

12 a.m. BSMW Los Angeles Angels at St. Louis Cardinals.

Thursday

6 a.m. BSMW Los Angeles Angels at St. Louis Cardinals.

12 p.m. BSMW Los Angeles Angels at St. Louis Cardinals. (Live)

7 p.m. BSMW Los Angeles Angels at St. Louis Cardinals.

Friday

6 a.m. BSMW Los Angeles Angels at St. Louis Cardinals.

12 p.m. BSMW Los Angeles Angels at St. Louis Cardinals.

6 p.m. ESPN2 College Softball Oklahoma at Oklahoma State. (Live)

7 p.m. BSMW Detroit Tigers at St. Louis Cardinals. (Live)

12 a.m. BSMW Detroit Tigers at St. Louis Cardinals.

Saturday

1 p.m. BSMW Detroit Tigers at St. Louis Cardinals. (Live)

2 p.m. BYUTV College Softball Pacific at BYU. (Live)

4 p.m. ESPN College Softball Oklahoma at Oklahoma State. (Live)

6 p.m. KLJB Boston Red Sox at Philadelphia Phillies. (Live) WFLDWYZZ MLB Baseball (Live)

7 p.m. BSMW Detroit Tigers at St. Louis Cardinals.

9 p.m. ESPN2 College Softball Washington at Stanford. (Live)

Basketball

Sunday 10

(Live)

1 a.m. ESPN2 Conference Semifinal: Teams TBA.

2:30 a.m. NBATV NBA Playoff Playback

3 a.m. ESPN Conference Semifinal: Teams TBA.

Friday

9 a.m. NBATV Basketball Africa League

11 a.m. NBATV NBA Playoff Playback

12 p.m. NBATV NBA Playoff Playback

1 p.m. NBATV NBA Playoff Playback

2 p.m. NBATV NBA Playoff Playback

3 p.m. NBATV NBA Playoff Playback

4 p.m. NBATV NBA Playoff Playback

6:30 p.m. ESPN Conference Semifinal: Teams TBA. (Live)

9 p.m. ESPN Conference Semifinal: Teams TBA. (Live)

ESPN2 NBA in Stephen A.’s World, Conference Semifinal: Teams TBA. (Live)

1 a.m. ESPN2 Conference Semifinal: Teams TBA.

2:30 a.m. NBATV NBA Playoff Playback

3 a.m. ESPN Conference Semifinal: Teams TBA.

Saturday

9 a.m. NBATV Basketball Africa League

11:30 a.m. NBATV NBA Playoff Playback

12:30 p.m. NBATV NBA Playoff Playback

2:30 p.m. WLSWQADWTVO Conference

Semifinal: Teams TBA. (Live)

7:30 p.m. WLSWQADWTVO Conference

Semifinal: Teams TBA. (Live)

1 a.m. ESPN2 Conference Semifinal: Teams TBA.

NBATV NBA Playoff Playback

2:30 a.m. NBATV NBA Playoff Playback

3 a.m. ESPN Conference Semifinal: Teams TBA.

4 a.m. NBATV NBA Playoff Playback FOOTBALL

Sunday

11 a.m. KWQCWEEKWMAQWREX

USFL Football Pittsburgh Maulers vs. Philadelphia Stars. (Live)