The New York Mets hosted a Junior Mets clinic at Citi Field this morning giving little leaguers from the Bronx and Brooklyn the experience of a lifetime.
Three little league teams were spread out into three groups across the Citi Field outfield. The groups included hitting, pitching and fielding. Mets’ pitcher Robert Gsellman and catcher Kevin Plawecki were on hand to give instructions and tips to the youngsters.
“It was amazing,” Gsellman said following the event. “These kids have wonderful energy and they brought a big smile to my face. I was glad they could come out.”
Gsellman specifically helped in the pitching portion of the clinic, teaching the young ballplayers how to throw with the correct arm angle.
“It’s important in this city to give back to these kids,” he said. “They love baseball. We have to bring it out into kids and have them come out and try the sport.”
In the grand scheme of things, the clinic was held to raise awareness for Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and tell what a terrible disease cancer is.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to partner with the Mets and get to interact with members of our local communities in Brooklyn and the Bronx,” a Sloan representative said. “It’s great for us to meet some new people and give them sunglasses, sunscreen to raise awareness.
“Cancer affects all demographics and all communities. It’s not localized and doesn’t care where you live and what you look like. It’s important for us to get a message out that we’re here for you.”
Just for attending the clinic, the teams received tickets to a future Mets game as well as a Junior Mets t-shirt.
“It was fun because we got to meet a lot of players,” 10-year-old Brooklyn Cyclone player Andrew Velacquez said. “I got a lot of autographs and I got to practice pitching, hitting and catching.”
Smiles all around the outfield of Citi Field earlier this morning.