Mets' Robinson Cano homers on Jackie Robinson Day . . . again!
Robinson Cano of the New York Mets celebrates his fourth inning home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with teammate Francisco Lindor at Citi Field on Friday, Apr. 15, 2022 in the Queens borough of New York City. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Robinson Cano, who was named after Jackie Robinson, sure likes hitting home runs on the day baseball has set aside to honor the man who broke the color barrier.
Cano hit a solo shot to left-center in the fourth inning of the Mets’ 10-3 victory over Arizona in the home opener on Friday at Citi Field.
It’s the fourth time Cano has gone deep on Jackie Robinson Day. He also homered on MLB's celebratory day in 2009 and twice in 2010 when he was with the Yankees.
“This is a day that myself and everybody is always going to remember,” said Cano, wears No. 24 to honor Robinson since 42 belonged to Mariano Rivera. “You go back and look at Jackie Robinson days and you do something special on that day.”
Cano’s home run off Zach Davies was the first of four hit by the Mets and gave them a 3-0 lead. It was Canó’s first home run since Sept. 22, 2020, when games were played with no fans because of COVID-19.
“It just feels exciting,” he said. “To be back and be able to not only hit the ball out, but to be here and healthy."
Cano, who was suspended for the 2021 season after failing a performance-enhancing drug test for the second time in his career, said he felt welcomed by the sellout crowd of 43,820.
If any Mets fans are still mad at Cano for costing himself a season, they were not heard on Friday.
“You want to do everything you can for the fans,” he said. “They show up and they show you the love and the support. You want to get a ‘W’ and send them home happy."
The Mets had to shuffle their lineup on Friday morning after outfielders Brandon Nimmo and Mark Canha were placed on the COVID list. McNeil moved from second to left and Cano, who was supposed to be the designated hitter, said he found out at about 11:30 that he was going to play second.
“For me, it was like nothing different,” said Cano, who was 1-for-4 and is batting .211. “We went outside today to take ground balls . . . because you never know what can happen. I always want to be ready.”
It was a memorable home opener for many reasons. Cano was asked what he would remember the most.
“The ‘W’ that we got today,” he said.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
