Tomas Nido: Mets Back Up Catcher (2017-2020)

Tomas E. Nido Vicens was born April 12th, 1994 in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He was born into a very athletic family. 

Parents: His mother Liana Vicens, competed at age 11, in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, as a swimmer. His father Tomas Sr. won a tennis medal in the 1982 Central American & Caribbean Games.

 His grandfather was a Puerto Rican National basketball Player. Also his great Uncle, Juan Vincens, was once dubbed "The Best Player In the World" in the 1959 FIBA Championships.

Quotes- Tomas Nido: "We are a very athletic family. It sticks out about my mom, she was very young, so the work ethic from a young age is something to be really proud of & has definitely helped me".

Nido grew up in Seminole County Florida & was to play baseball for the Florida State Seminoles. 

Instead the New York Mets selected him as an 8th round pick in 2012 & he we went to A ball with the Kingsport Mets. He then spent two seasons with the Brooklyn Cyclones (2013-2014) before climbing the minor league ladder.

In 2016 he won a batting title with the St,. Lucie Mets. The next year he as at AA Binghamton & played in the Futures Game. That year he got a big league September call up. 

Nido is a fine defensive catcher, with good pop time & highly rated at making strikes for pitchers.

Nido made his MLB debut on September 13th, 2017 as a 9th inning defensive replacement in a 17-5 Mets loss to the Chicago Cubs. He would make two more late inning appearances, collecting his first two hits in those game. He closed out the season starting two games behind the plate.

2018: In 2018 he saw lots more action, due to the ulnar collateral injury to Travis d'Arnaud and the Mets other catching issues. Nido got into 34 games throughout the season, batting .167 (14-84) with three RBIs. He threw out 5 of 20 base stealers (20%) making four errors for a .983 fielding %. 

2019: Nido would make the team out of Spring Training, as

the teams back up catcher. He would have a great rapport behind the plate with Mets pitchers, especially Noah Syndergaard. His defense was good as usual although base runners stole 34 of 37 bases on him.

Once again he batted under .200, hitting .191 with 4 HRs 5 doubles & 14 RBIs in 50 games, 136 at bats.

On April 28th, he had a pinch hit double, scoring two runs in a 5-2 Mets win over the Milwaukee Brewers. In May he hit two of his four HRs on the season, both coming in a six game span. 

Walk Off: In May 25th, he hit a walk off HR against Buck Famer & the Detroit Tigers.

On July 6th, he cleared the bases with a three run double to center field off the Phils, Jake Arrieta. The runs proved to be the game winners in the 6-5 Mets win. 

In a three year career he played in 89 games, posting a .989 fielding % while throwing out 27% of would be base stealers. He is a lifetime .187 hitter with 43 hits 5 HRs 9 doubles & 26 RBIs.

In the Covid shortened 2020 season  the Mets resigned Rene Rivera, giving Nido some competition in the back up role.

Nido got into his first game on July 26th, he doubled & walked. On August 13th he had a monster day, hitting two HRs & driving in a career high six runs, leading the Mets to an 8-2 win over the Nats.

He contracted the Covid19 coronavirus & missed the last month of the season. At the time he was batting .292.  He spent 18 days bed ridden but made a strong recovery to return in 2021. 

As the Mets upgraded the catcher spot, with James McCann, they left the back spot for Nido with confidence in him for the up coming year.

In his four year career he is batting  .197 with 7 HRs 10 doubles & 32 RBIs in 96 games. He has thrown out 13% of would be base stealers & posted a .989 fielding % in 88 games.