Haggerty enjoying call-up with the Mets

On the final day of August, Sam Haggerty was in Rochester, N.Y., and was pulled from the game by his team, the Syracuse Mets, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets.

“The just said, ‘We’re pulling you from the game,’” Haggerty said. “A couple of other guys (on the team) said that when they do that, it usually means something. I didn’t know for sure.”

But he quickly was informed – he was about to enjoy the first call-up of his career. He was to join the Mets, who were still in the National League
Wild Card race.

“It’s a dream come true,” the 2012 Mullen graduate said. “When you’re a little kid, you dream about it. This is why you started playing as a little kid. You achieve your goal, you get here and it’s amazing.”

And it was everything he had hoped for … and then some.

“It exceeded my expectations,” Haggerty said. “You can’t anticipate the way things happen up here. You need to experience it. Someone can tell you all about it, but you won’t be able to understand it until you do it.”

He debuted on Sept. 4, pinch-running for Todd Frazier in an 8-4 victory by the Mets over Washington. He scored his first run a couple of games later in Philadelphia against the Phillies while also pinch-running for Frazier. Entering Tuesday, he had scored twice.

“My job at this point is pinch-running specialist,” Haggerty said. “I’m fast and that’s what they brought me up here to do.”

He had 113 steals in his minor-league career that began with Cleveland (drafted in the 24^th round) after three years for the New Mexico Lobos. The native of Phoenix was traded to the Mets the past January.

Haggerty batted .283 in his first minor-league season and was hitting .271 before his call-up. He can play all three infield positions as well as left and
center field.

As a Mustang, the all-stater batted .427 over three seasons (2010-12) with five home runs, 10 triples 17 doubles and 55 RBIs over 56 games.

But the one at-bat in his love affair with the game that tends to be recalled was his first one for the Mets.

“The walk to the plate seemed a little longer,” he said. “It seemed like the plate wasn’t getting any closer. But once I got to it, it was playing baseball again.”

He struck out, but he entered baseball’s fabled history book. Speaking from the visiting clubhouse at Coors Field on Tuesday, he pointed out that there are good players on all levels of pro ball and that he enjoys being the 19,656^th to make a major-league debut.

“These guys are the best at what they do, the best in the world,” he said. “Their attention to detail and ability to execute … it’s not surpassed by anything.”

Haggerty, who also appreciates the chance to visit different parts of the country he ordinarily would never see, said he doesn’t get back to Denver much. His parents still live in the area and he appreciates the support he has received while playing against the Rockies, “but I still have a job to do.”

And he has a message for Mustangs present and future: “Play hard, work hard and enjoy the ride. Don’t stop until someone says you can’t do it anymore.”

Here’s a link to the video of Haggerty being informed of his promotion: