New York Mets baseman Brett Baty’s father, Clint Baty, raved about his son’s debut in the major league. The 22-year-old scored a two-run shot into the right-field seat against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night at Truist Park.
Clint said he thought about everything it took for Baty to reach the major league with the help of his community, which Baty referred it as his “support group” when he was younger.
“It was just absolutely incredible because it takes a lot of people. It takes a village to let these kids grow and teach them all kinds of different things so we had a lot of very influential people in our kids’ lives and just to share it with them, just absolutely incredible,” Clint said.
Brett Baty celebrated his first homer with his mom before he got to the dugout 🥹 pic.twitter.com/lKmUBZAnWT
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 17, 2022
Community support
Clint is a business teacher and basketball coach at Lake Travis High School near Austin, Texas. He was going to teach his last class on Tuesday when Baty called him to tell him about his debut.
After Baty told Clint, word got out quickly throughout the community. Eventually, Clint assembled a traveling party consisting of two dozen family members, friends, and former coaches to Atlanta the following day to watch Baty’s first major league at-bat Wednesday night.
At the Brett Baty watch party! pic.twitter.com/yqFxAUzkG6
— Lake Travis Cavalier Baseball (@LTCavBaseball) August 18, 2022
During the game, Baty circled the bases and flashed the “I love you and thanks for your support” hand gesture, to which his mother Leslie reciprocated. Clint later mentioned how it was difficult for a high school baseball player to be drafted into the major league.
“And it’s hard to move up a level in the minor leagues and then you get an opportunity to play in the big leagues and your first time up you hit a home run and you get to share it with all the people who have played a part in your journey along the way,” Clint said.
An hour after the game, Baty spent some time with his father’s party by the third-base dugout.
Brett Baty hit a home run in his first MLB at-bat and his family's reaction was as priceless as it gets pic.twitter.com/X8Gcm0Wu8J
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 17, 2022
“Just pure joy,” Baty said. “To be able to help this ballclub out in my first at-bat, and then to look up and see my family up there and be able to celebrate it with them? Just pure joy for sure.”
Clint and Leslie said they planned to follow the Mets to Philadelphia this weekend.
The home run
Baty became the fifth player in the Mets history to make a home run in the first big league at-bat. Baty’s home run allowed the Mets to win 9-7 over the Braves and snagged the team’s eight-game winning streak after they were initially outscored 18-1 in the first two games of the series.
“I’m here for a reason,” Baty said. “I’ll let it show.”
Baty’s hit from left-hander Tyler Matzek was considered the Mets’ hardest-hit ball recorded since 2016, with the ball being thrown at 113 mph. He joined the ranks of Mike Jacobs, Kazuo Matsui, Mike Fitzgerald, and Benny Ayala as the only Mets to start their debut with a home run in their first at-bat.
Starting pitcher Max Scherzer was impressed with Baty’s performance and glad he was one of the Mets.
“He probably thinks he belongs here now,” starting pitcher Max Scherzer said. “That’s a good thing. That’s what we need.”
Starling Marte also helped the team to secure the win with his two home runs while Baty finished 1-for-4 and handled all four of his defensive chances without any issue.
BRETT BATY HAS HOMERED IN HIS FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE AT-BAT!!!!! pic.twitter.com/EPwfc0BDzK
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 17, 2022