Mets home opener 2022: What to know
A general view of the national anthem before Opening Day between the Mets and the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on April 4, 2019. Credit: Jim McIsaac
After the lockout, spring training and a season-opening road trip that was unusual in that it included seven games in seven days, the Mets finally are home.
Citi Field’s Opening Day will be special for a few reasons. For starters, this will be the first time this year the Mets play in a full ballpark. That wasn’t the case any of the days or nights in Washington or Philadelphia.
Here is what you should know about the game and other goings-on:
Parking lots: Open at 9:40 a.m.
Tom Seaver ceremony: 10:30 a.m. The long-awaited statue of "The Franchise," featuring his iconic drop-and-drive delivery, will be unveiled out front of Citi Field 2 1/2 hours before first pitch. Seaver’s family, owner Steve Cohen, Hall of Famer Mike Piazza and sculptor William Behrends will be on hand. The late Seaver will be the first person immortalized with a statue at Citi Field.
This event is open to the public, even those who don’t have tickets to the game. It also will be aired live on SNY.
Gates open: 10:40 a.m.
Shea family floral presentation: 12:35 p.m. Members of the Shea family will present Buck Showalter with a floral arrangement on the field. This is an annual tradition, in which relatives of Bill Shea give flowers to the manager prior to the home opener.
First pitch: 1:10 p.m. The Mets will play the Diamondbacks. Chris Bassitt will pitch against Zach Davies.
Honoring NYPD: The Mets will recognize fallen NYPD officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora, who were shot and killed in the line of duty in January.
Jackie Robinson Day: It is the 75th anniversary of Robinson’s color barrier-breaking major-league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Players, coaches and managers on both teams will wear No. 42 on the back of their jerseys.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
