With new number fit for big-leaguer, Mets catcher Patrick Mazeika showing he belongs in majors
Patrick Mazeika #4 of the Mets celebrates his seventh inning home run against the Seattle Mariners at Citi Field on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Credit: Jim McIsaac
SAN FRANCISCO — Upon returning to the majors on May 13, Patrick Mazeika looked much the same as he did as a rookie last year, save for a trimmed, neater beard. He is a 6-3, 210-pound, bespectacled backup backup backstop, pressed into action when James McCann broke a bone in his wrist.
Except during his car ride to Queens from Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he had been with Triple-A Syracuse, he got a text from Mets equipment manager Kevin Kierst: Did he want to switch his jersey from No. 76 to No. 4?
That was big. Kierst was following up on Mazeika’s inquiry during spring training about such a change. He had been told then, sure, maybe for the season. And he hadn’t pursued it further. Getting a better number — and ditching the one that screamed non-roster invitee or September-call-up — brings a big-leaguer an air of legitimacy.
“He’s arrived,” manager Buck Showalter said, his sarcastic tone belying the reality that it really does mean something to players. “If he has a bad day tomorrow, he’ll go back to 76.”
What is the difference to Mazeika between No. 76 and No. 4?
“Hopefully a couple better strike calls. They see No. 76 and you’re 0-and-2, if it’s a couple balls off the plate . . . “ he said, trailing off with a laugh. “I don’t know. We’ll see. That’s the only thing I can see. A better number — who knows if there’s any truth to that? But it’s possible.”
His jersey isn’t the only significant number from his past week-plus in the majors, the start of what could be an extended stretch with the Mets because McCann is expected to be out about six weeks.
Entering play Tuesday, Mazeika was hitting .250 (5-for-20) with three doubles and one homer. That matched exactly his extra-base hit output from four times as many at-bats last year and made for a cool .800 OPS.
That extra punch at the plate is one reason Showalter has been so comfortable playing him so often. He started five of the Mets’ past 10 games through Monday, making the playing time split for the Tomas Nido/Mazeika tandem about the same as the McCann/Nido version.
Showalter wouldn’t commit to Mazeika getting about half the starts moving forward, but he praised both catchers.
“It’s good to have both of them performing and doing well. I know the pitchers don’t think twice about who they’re throwing to,” Showalter said. “I’ll keep them both involved. I’ll look at the matchup every day and see what’s our best foot to put forward. I’m happy with the way both of them have presented to give us the option to play both of them as much as we feel comfortable doing it. That’s a good way of [remaining publicly neutral on playing time possibilities]. We’re going to play them both.”
Mazeika, for his part, tries not to think about when he’ll play or how long he’ll stick around. He’ll show up at the ballpark the Mets tell him to show up at.
“That’s pretty much my mindset,” he said.
But the early results have been encouraging. Like another former No. 4, Wilmer Flores, the Mets’ all-time walk-off RBI leader and their Giants opponent this week, Mazeika has shown a penchant for the dramatic, like his seventh-inning go-ahead home run in his season debut May 14 (not to mention his two walk-off dribblers in quick succession last year). He also has RBI doubles in his past two games.
“I’ve always believed in my ability and that I belong,” he said. “I’m fortunate to get some opportunities lately.”
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.
