Francisco Lindor is the team’s MVP and, perhaps in the future, the captain.
Pete Alonso, a two-time Home Run Derby champion and well-known slugger who has become a national figure, might be the team’s face.
In a lot of ways Brandon Nimmo is the team’s heart, and that heart had strings that were being tugged in a euphoric scene for the Mets at Citi Field on Wednesday night.
It all washed over Nimmo when Edwin Diaz pumped a fastball past Kyle Schwarber to close a 4-1 win over the Phillies and clinch an NLDS win that moves Nimmo into the NLCS for the first time in his nine years in Queens.
A first-round pick from a Wyoming high school in 2011 helped bring his team to the precipice of the World Series 13 years later.
He knows the effort that goes into each game and each season.
All of the work and all of the moments, big and small, culminated in an NLCS trip that brought the longest-tenured Mets player to tears.
“When it’s never been done before, you always wonder what it’s like when it really happens,” a red-eyed Nimmo said in a champagne-filled clubhouse. “It always seems a little bit out there, like you can’t quite grasp it. What would it actually be like to grab on and hold on?
“When we were able to do that … the emotion that roared over me — I was trying to not worry about it, keep playing our game, game’s not over, you always go through the last out — and the emotion that poured over me was unbelievable.”
The Mets wrapped up a playoff spot in Atlanta.
They survived a wild-card gauntlet in Milwaukee.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Mets in the postseason:
- Mets overcome arch rival Phillies to advance to NLCS as Lindor hits game-winning grand slam
- Francisco Lindor lights Citi Field on fire with wild go-ahead Mets grand slam
- Mets catch break on controversial Phillies foul ball
- Heyman: Mets have real chance to turn Amazin’ party into World Series run
For the first time in the ballpark’s history, the Mets clinched a playoff series at Citi Field.
“To be able to do it in front of the fan base, here at Citi Field, for the first time is just a dream come true for me and everything I ever wanted when I got drafted,” Nimmo said.
The Mets survived the Phillies series just as they have survived everything this season: with maximum theatrics.
They dug a hole, trailing 1-0 after five innings, before Lindor smacked a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth.
Edwin Diaz flirted with disaster late, and the on-brand Mets kept breathing.
Nimmo looked ahead to a matchup against the Padres or Dodgers and did not care which awaits the Mets.
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This moment meant a lot, but he is looking for more.
“We think we’ve got as good a shot as anybody. We’ve thought that since the beginning,” said Nimmo, whose team will be in the final four. “This is amazing, and we’re going to soak it in … but it is just the next step in the journey. And we have no intention of just settling here and laying down.
“We’re going to go out, and we’re going to give everything we’ve got.”
