Brandon Nimmo

Brandon Nimmo
Nimmo with the Mets in 2023
New York Mets – No. 9
Outfielder
Born: (1993-03-27) March 27, 1993 (age 31)
Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 26, 2016, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.261
Hits820
Home runs110
Runs batted in371
Teams

Brandon Tate Nimmo (born March 27, 1993) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Mets in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut with them in 2016.

Early life and education

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Nimmo was born to Ron, a certified public accountant from La Junta, Colorado, and Patti Nimmo in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He has a brother, Bryce (who had a successful college baseball career for the Nebraska Cornhuskers), and a sister, Kristen. He wanted to be a bull rider as a child.[1] He grew up a Colorado Rockies fan.[2]

Nimmo attended Cheyenne East High School in Cheyenne. As Wyoming is one of only three states that do not offer high school baseball, Nimmo played American Legion Baseball. In 2010, he batted .448 with 15 home runs and 34 stolen bases in 70 games for his club, Post 6.[3]

The Mets scouted Nimmo's Legion games and other events.[4] One such event was the 2010 Under Armour All-America Baseball Game at Wrigley Field, where Nimmo went 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and two runs batted in to earn co-MVP honors with pitcher Nick Burdi.[5]

Baseball America ranked Nimmo among the Top 50 prospects for the 2011 draft at number 35.[6] When the Mets selected Nimmo with the 13th overall pick in 2011, he became the highest-drafted Wyomingite in the history of the Major League Baseball Draft.[3] Of the 13 players selected from Wyoming high schools, the previous highest pick was pitcher Michael Beaver, selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth round (109th overall) of the 1966 Major League Baseball draft.[6] Nimmo signed for $2.1 million at the age of 18. If left unsigned, he had a verbal commitment to attend the University of Arkansas.[3]

Professional career

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Minor league career

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Nimmo in the 2013 All-Star Futures Game at Citi Field

Nimmo played ten games with the Gulf Coast Mets and the Kingsport Mets towards the end of the 2011 season. He combined to hit .211 with four runs batted in. He spent the following season with the Class A-Short Season Brooklyn Cyclones of the New York–Penn League. On July 30, Nimmo posted the first four-hit game of his career, falling just a triple short of the cycle, with three runs scored and two RBIs to lead the Cyclones in a 10–5 win over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.[7] On August 18, Nimmo capped a career-high six-RBI night with his second grand slam of the season.[8] Nimmo was the only player in the New York–Penn League with two grand slams in 2012, his first coming on June 30.[8][9] For the season, Nimmo batted .248 with six home runs and forty RBIs in 266 at bats. Nimmo placed fourth in doubles and fifth in RBIs for the New York–Penn League.

Nimmo began the 2013 season with the Class-A Savannah Sand Gnats and was ranked fourth among Mets prospects. By April 17, Nimmo was the leading hitter in the South Atlantic League with a .447 batting average,[10] earning him a SAL mid-season All-Star nod. He was also voted into the 2013 All-Star Futures Game held at the Mets' Citi Field.

By season's end, his batting average fell to .273 with two home runs and forty RBIs. His performance at the plate was considered underwhelming as he averaged more than a strikeout per game.[11] His numbers may have been hampered by a spacious home ballpark in Savannah that's tough on lefty power hitters, as well as a wrist injury that caused him to miss some games.[11]

Nimmo started the 2014 season with Class-A Advanced St. Lucie Mets of the Florida State League. After batting .322 with four home runs, 25 RBIs, a .448 on-base percentage and .458 slugging percentage to earn FSL All-Star honors, he received a mid-season promotion to Double-A Binghamton Mets on June 19. Between his two clubs, Nimmo posted a .278 average, 10 home runs and 51 RBI.

Nimmo with the Binghamton Mets in 2015

After a brief four game stint with St. Lucie at the start of the 2015 season, Nimmo was promoted to the Binghamton Mets. He suffered a knee injury on April 29 that caused him to miss some playing time.[12] Prior to the knee injury, Nimmo was batting .297 with a .368 on-base percentage and a .420 slugging percentage in 34 games.[13] On July 28, it was announced that Nimmo was promoted to the Mets Triple-A affiliate, Las Vegas 51s as the starting center fielder. Once again, his season was interrupted by injury when he fouled a baseball off his nose in a batting cage.[14] The Mets added him to their 40-man roster after the season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[15]

Major league career

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2016

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Nimmo began the 2016 season with the Las Vegas 51s; through 250 at bats he was hitting .328 with five home runs and 37 RBIs. Nimmo was promoted to the Major Leagues on June 25 to replace the slumping Michael Conforto whose batting average had fallen to .130 since May 1.[16] He made his major league debut the next day against the Atlanta Braves and went 0-for-4.[17] On June 27, his second game, Nimmo recorded his first hit and his first run against Washington Nationals pitcher Joe Ross and went 2-4 overall. On July 1, he hit his first home run, a three-run homer against Jason Hammel of the Chicago Cubs, making the game 7–1 in the bottom of the fourth inning.[18] On July 17, Nimmo was sent down to the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s after batting .235 with one home run and four RBIs in 51 at-bats.[19] On July 29, Nimmo was once again promoted after Juan Lagares suffered a torn thumb ligament and undertook surgery to repair the injury.[20]

2017–18

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Nimmo on Opening Day in 2018

In 2017, Brandon Nimmo was chosen to be part of Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic.[21] While playing in the World Baseball Classic, Nimmo strained his right hamstring.[22] The injury left him unable to join the Mets Opening Day roster, and when he recovered in late April, he began his season in the minor leagues. He remained with Las Vegas until June 16, when injuries to Juan Lagares and Matt Harvey led to Nimmo and Matt Reynolds returning to the Major Leagues.[23] Nimmo started strong, hitting .350/.458/.400 over 24 plate appearances. However, he was placed on the disabled list with a partially collapsed lung on July 8 and would not return until July 28.[24] Nimmo would finish the 2017 season appearing in 69 games for the Mets, batting .260/.379/.418 with 5 home runs. Late in the year, hitting coaches Kevin Long and Pat Roessler suggested that Nimmo try hitting without his front foot striding forward.[25] Nimmo took the suggestion, which allowed his front foot to turn open and generate better hip rotation.[25] Up until that August, Nimmo had slugged .346 in his career.[25] He slugged .479 in September and continued to show increased power in 2018, slugging over .500 through the season's first two months.[25] In 2018, Nimmo batted .263/.404/.483, with 17 home runs and 47 RBI. He led the majors in hit by pitch, with 20.[26]

2019

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On April 17, 2019, Nimmo was taken out of the first inning of a game due to a stiff neck,[27] and missed two games. On May 21, he once again experienced neck stiffness and went on the injured list.[28] He was later found to have a bulging disk in his neck and went through a rough rehabilitation assignment,[29] not appearing in the Mets' lineup again until September 1. In 2019, Nimmo batted .221/.375/.407 with 8 home runs and 29 RBIs in 69 games. He had the fastest home run trot of all major league players, at 17.7 seconds.[30]

2020

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In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Nimmo hit .280/.404/.484 with 8 home runs and 18 RBIs in 55 games.

2021

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In 2021, Nimmo missed most of May and all of June due to a bruised hand.[31] He returned to the active roster in July, but suffered a hamstring strain on September 4 and missed two weeks.[32] He finished the 2021 season batting .292/.401/.437 with 8 home runs and 28 RBIs in 92 games.

2022

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Nimmo finished the 2022 season batting .274/.367/.433 with 16 home runs and 64 RBIs in 151 games in center field.[33] On December 10, 2022, Nimmo signed an 8-year, $162 million contract to remain with the Mets.[34]

2023

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In 2023, Nimmo batted .274/.363/.466 with 24 home runs and 68 RBI, playing 136 games in center field and 10 games in left field.[35]

2024

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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that when Nimmo would play left field for the Mets in 2024 and new acquisition Harrison Bader would play center field.[36] On June 30, 2024, during a game against the Houston Astros, Nimmo hit his 100th career home run, off of pitcher Bryan Abreu. He became the 16th player to hit at least 100 home runs in a Mets uniform.[37][38]

Nimmo played in 151 games for the Mets in 2024, batting .224/.327/.399 with 23 home runs and a career-high 90 RBI.[39]

Personal life

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Nimmo married Chelsea Bradley[40] in November 2017 in Savannah, Georgia.[41] Nimmo is a Christian.[42]

References

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  1. ^ Rohan, Tim (June 26, 2012). "Brandon Nimmo, Mets Prospect, Goes From Big Sky to Big Skyline in New York". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  2. ^ Ehalt, Matt (June 18, 2018; updated June 19, 2018). "Brandon Nimmo hits two homers, including inside-the-park blast, in Mets' 12-2 win". Northjersey.com. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c DiComo, Anthony (August 16, 2011). "Mets sign top pick Nimmo". Mets.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  4. ^ DiComo, Anthony (June 7, 2011). "Mets take road less traveled to find Nimmo". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  5. ^ Askeland, Kevin (August 17, 2010). "Wyoming's Nimmo named MVP at Under Armour Game". MaxPreps.com.
  6. ^ a b Michaelis, Vicki (April 19, 2011). "Outfielder Nimmo could make draft history for Wyoming". USA Today. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  7. ^ Raymond, Jonathan (July 30, 2012). "Nimmo whips through first four-hit game". MiLB.com.
  8. ^ a b Emrich, Robert (August 18, 2012). "Nimmo simply grand for Cyclones". MiLB.com.
  9. ^ Raymond, Jonathan (June 30, 2012). "First homer grand for Cyclones' Nimmo". MiLB.com.
  10. ^ Petanick, Nick (April 17, 2013). "Brandon Nimmo Is One Of The Hottest Prospects In Baseball". Mets Merized Online. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Zarpentine, Bryan (May 7, 2014). "New York Mets Prospects: Brandon Nimmo Off To Hot Start, Proving Doubters Wrong". rantsports.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  12. ^ Hardalo, Andrea (May 22, 2015). "Mets injury update: Brandon Nimmo to miss four-to-six weeks, rehab in Florida". amazinavenue.com. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  13. ^ Worthy, Lynn (September 18, 2015). "Worthy: Nimmo can still be major piece for the Mets". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, NY.
  14. ^ Rubin, Adam (August 29, 2015). "Brandon Nimmo Poised to Return After Facial Injury". ESPN.
  15. ^ DiComo, Anthony (November 20, 2015). "Nimmo Among Four Added to Mets' 40-man". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  16. ^ Rubin, Adam (June 25, 2016). "Mets demote slumping Michael Conforto, promote Brandon Nimmo". ESPN. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  17. ^ Cerrone, Matthew (June 27, 2016). "Brandon Nimmo goes 0-for-4 in Mets debut". SNY.tv. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  18. ^ Guardado, Maria (June 27, 2016). "Mets prospect Brandon Nimmo collects 1st hit vs. Nationals". NJ.com. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  19. ^ "Michael Conforto returns to Mets, Brandon Nimmo sent down". Newsday. newsday.com. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  20. ^ Ackert, Kristie (July 29, 2016). "Mets to send Juan Lagares to DL, Brandon Nimmo will be activated". New York Daily News. nydailynews.com. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  21. ^ Thornburg, Chad (January 12, 2017). "WBC 2017 Preview: Breaking down Italy[permanent dead link]". MLB.com. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  22. ^ Sypa, Steve (March 12, 2017). "Brandon Nimmo strains hamstring in World Baseball Classic". Amazin Avenue. SB Nation. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  23. ^ DiComo, Anthony (June 16, 2017). "Nimmo, Reynolds up; Harvey, Lagares to DL". MLB.com. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  24. ^ Palermo, Kevin (July 28, 2017). "Mets activate Brandon Nimmo, option Tyler Pill". Amazin Avenue. SB Nation. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  25. ^ a b c d "The Yankees' greatest need, unlikely All-Star candidates and more". SI.com. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  26. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2018 » Batters » Standard Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com.
  27. ^ "Mets hope rest will cure Nimmo's stiff neck". MLB.com. April 17, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  28. ^ "Mets' Brandon Nimmo: Lands on IL with stiff neck". CBS Sports. May 22, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  29. ^ "Latest injury update on Mets' Brandon Nimmo does not sound promising". SNY. June 17, 2019. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  30. ^ "Statcast Home Run Tracking". baseballsavant.com.
  31. ^ DiComo, Anthony (May 5, 2021). "Nimmo heads to IL with bruised hand". MLB.com. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  32. ^ Ragazzo, Pat (September 5, 2021). "Mets Lose Brandon Nimmo To IL Due To A Hamstring Strain". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  33. ^ Spotrac.com. "Brandon Nimmo". Spotrac.com. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  34. ^ DiComo, Anthony (December 10, 2022). "Nimmo staying with Mets, signs 8-year deal". MLB.com. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  35. ^ "Brandon Nimmo Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
  36. ^ "Nimmo, Bader embrace OF shakeup: 'The intention is to win'". MLB.com.
  37. ^ "New York Mets Slugger Brandon Nimmo Hits 100th Career Home Run". Fastball. June 30, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  38. ^ "Brandon Nimmo's 100th career home run (13) | 06/30/2024". MLB.com. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  39. ^ "Brandon Nimmo Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  40. ^ "Brandon Nimmo soaks in moment after long road from Wyoming to Mets". ESPN. June 28, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  41. ^ "You won't believe where Mets' Travis d'Arnaud, Brandon Nimmo ran into each other". NJ.com. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  42. ^ Romano, Jason (May 29, 2018). "Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo shining God's light as a regular with New York Mets". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
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