Mets' Brandon Nimmo hit two grand slams this week, and it isn't just a hot streak
The Mets' Brandon Nimmo rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam in the first inning against the Yankees at Citi Field on Saturday. Credit: Corey Sipkin
It feels pretty good, by the way — launching the ball into the seats and having three runners cross the plate in front of you.
Not that anyone was doubting that, but just in case, Brandon Nimmo tested that hypothesis twice in the span of four days — the latest coming in the first inning in the Mets’ 12-6 drubbing of the Yankees at Citi Field on Saturday.
“It’s really cool when cool things happen like that,” he said. “I’ve been playing a long time and I haven’t hit two grand slams in a week, so it’s a really fun feeling, especially in this atmosphere. It feels like playoff baseball. The Subway Series is always so much energy, and to do that in the first inning is really, really cool.”
It’s also indicative of a larger trend. Nimmo, who went 2-for-4, became the first Met since Carlos Beltran in 2006 to belt three grand slams in a season.
After a slow start, Nimmo, who in recent years has shifted to a power approach, is seeing his swing pay dividends. In the last 37 games, he’s slashing .313/.365/.569 with 10 homers, seven doubles, 25 RBIs and 22 runs. He has 18 homers this year, behind only Juan Soto (21) and Pete Alonso (20) on the Mets.
“There’s been hiccups along the way,” he said of the changes he’s made to boost his power numbers. He added that he hasn’t noticed a material difference in his at-bats but does feel he’s been boosted by the warmer weather.
“I don’t know if that ball gets out earlier in the year,” he said. “And it makes a huge difference when you hit a home run or you’re taking a right turn into the dugout . . . Stat-wise, it’s a huge difference and confidence-wise [too].”
On Saturday, beyond the four early runs, it appeared to be a huge contributing factor to the team win. It gave Frankie Montas a long leash to work with and it helped the Mets withstand a number of smaller Yankees rallies.
The early lead “helps big time and sets the tone and kind of takes the pressure off of everyone, whether it’s the offense, the pitching staff — there’s a little bit of wiggle room from the beginning,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I thought we had some really good at-bats before that Nimmo at-bat . . . Then [Nimmo] takes a couple of sliders, he stays in there for one that’s up in the zone and he’s able to hit a grand slam.”
Nimmo’s homer, off Carlos Rodon’s belt-high slider, was hit at a modest(ish) 99.6 mph and went 387 feet to right-center. But that doesn’t matter — all grand slams feel good. It feels good, too, to stick to a course and see it pay off, Nimmo said.
“It’s really turned into some good power numbers as of late,” he said. “I think the biggest thing has just been trying to continually get better and continue to work and make things more consistent . . .
“I wish I could say there was some sort of magic thing I did or some potion or whatnot, but it’s not. It’s been honestly the name of the game this year . . . staying the course, trying not to panic and kind of trust that things will come around.”
It can be harder than it looks, particularly after the brutal June the Mets endured, but right now, it’s proved worth the cost.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
