A prospect’s major league debut already comes with a little bit of excitement and fanfare, but Nick Morabito’s has some added intrigue for a reason unrelated to his play on the field.
Morabito, the Mets outfield prospect, was given the No. 8 by the team for Wednesday’s game against the Nationals after he was called up from Triple-A Syracuse.
While the number, which Morabito wore in Syracuse this season, hasn’t been officially retired by the Mets, it has been used sparingly since Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter donned it in New York from 1985-89.
And while there was some anger and confusion from some — including from one of the team’s legendary broadcasters — over the decision to give Morabito No. 8, the Mets plan to give him a different number on Wednesday, per The Post’s Mike Puma.
It was too late in the day for the Mets to change his number for Tuesday, when he will play left field and bat seventh in the lineup.
Only three players — Dave Gallagher (1992-93), Carlos Baerga (1997-98) and Desi Relaford (2001) have worn it after Carter. Former third base coach Matt Galante also wore it in 2002.
Howie Rose, before the news went out that Morabito would change numbers, was among those who felt the decision to give the rookie Carter’s number was “wrong.”
“It appears that most fans are opposed to the Mets releasing #8 (to call up Nick Morabito) after having not issued it for 25 years,” Rose wrote on X. “There’s been a debate over whether Gary Carter’s number should be retired, but to release it this 40th anniversary season of 1986 just seems wrong.”
Rose, once finding out about Morabito getting a different number then posted about a similar situation that occurred 36 years ago.
When Kelvin Torve played his first game for the Mets in 1990, he was given No. 24, which had been unofficially retired by former owner Joan Whitney Payson to honor Willie Mays. Torve’s number was shortly thereafter changed to No. 39. The Mets officially retired 24 in 2022.
In 2012, the Mets honored Carter with both a “Kid 8” patch on their jerseys and an area of Citi Field’s left field wall following the catcher’s death at 57 years old after a battle with brain cancer.
