By Jerry Del Priore
After finishing his player career with the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League in 2018, former New York Met Endy Chavez has joined the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets’ New York-Penn League (NYPL) short-season Single-A affiliate, as a coach for the 2019 season.
Chavez, 41, is revered by Mets fans for his amazing game-saving catch in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006, though New York wound up losing in the end.
The left-handed, Venezuelan-born ex-outfielder had played 13 years in the big leagues – with the Mets, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners.
In the batter’s box, Chavez sported a .270 career average with 30 long balls, 266 RBI and 106 stolen bases over his long MLB career.
Known for his defensive prowess, however, Chavez robbed Scott Rolen of a two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning to keep the contest knotted and ignited the Shea Stadium faithful into an electrical jubilation, resulting in two memorable curtain calls.
That unforgettable catch earned Chavez a 2007 ESPY Award nomination.
Note: Former Mets farmhand, Ender Chavez, who played for the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2002-03 and ‘07, is the younger brother of Endy.
The Cyclones kickoff the ’19 campaign at MCU Park on Friday, June 14 at 7:00 p.m. against cross-bridge rivals, the Staten Island Yankees.
