Sometimes baseball players can be in an inconvenient spot when they’re traded at the deadline. And sometimes they’re standing on second base when it happens.
Former Mets prospect Jesus Baez now falls into the latter category.
Baez had just moved over to second after High-A Brooklyn Cyclones second baseman Marco Vargas walked in the bottom of the first on Wednesday when word came down to have the infield prospect come out of the game in Coney Island since he was part of the trade that helped the Mets acquire closer Ryan Helsley from the Cardinals.
The stream of Wednesday’s game between the Cyclones and the Jersey Shore BlueClaws captured it all unfolding as Jefrey De Los Santos entered the game to replace Baez
Baez quickly realized that he was the one coming out of the game and was laughing as he jogged off the field for the final time in the Mets organization.
Vargas and the Cyclones’ first base coach both made sure to shake Baez’s hand as he came off the field.
“And hug watch for the Brooklyn Cyclones is officially on,” Cyclones broadcaster Justin Rocke said on air.
Baez’s Cyclones teammates lined up to hug or high-five him after he walked back into the dugout.
One player gave him a big embrace as he came off the field.
Baez, along with pitchers Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt, are headed to St. Louis in a deal that brings Helsley to Queens and fortifies the Amazin’s bullpen further.
The deal between the Mets and Cardinals was made official shortly after 8 p.m.
It was the second bullpen trade of the day for Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns after he had worked to acquire submariner Tyer Rogers from the Giants earlier in the day.
All of the wheeling and dealing comes less than 24 hours before the trade deadline arrives on Thursday at 6 p.m.