Truly Amazin': Mets honor inspirational amputee baseball team

NEW YORK -- The Louisville Slugger Warriors have been an inspiration to people who love the game of baseball. They are a nationally sponsored and competitive amputee baseball team that consists of U.S. military veterans, active duty personnel, Wounded Warriors and current and former amputee college baseball players.

During a pregame ceremony on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field, the team was rewarded with the Amazin’ Mets Foundation Legacy Award, which celebrates the people and organizations in the baseball community that are making a difference and driving impactful change on and off the field.

The Warriors at the ceremony were manager Curtis Pride, a former Major League player who is deaf and an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing in sports; general manager David Van Sleet; catcher Carlo James Adame; and pitcher Parker Hanson. They had photo opportunities with Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, received the City Connect jerseys that the Mets wear only on Saturdays and met players such as slugger Pete Alonso and center fielder Harrison Bader in the locker room.

“The Mets are rolling out the red carpet for us,” Van Sleet said. “For us to be selected for the award was an amazing honor.”

Pride said he is proud to be coaching players who don’t see any limitations when they play baseball.

“I felt extremely honored that the team was getting the Legacy Award,” Pride said. “I am happy our team is getting this incredible recognition. These players deserve this honor because they have transcended their disabilities, injuries and related trauma and play at such an inspirational level.”

Starting in 2018, the Warriors have been playing in national baseball tournaments around the country and in special baseball game events, all against able-bodied teams. They currently play in West Palm Beach, Fla., at the CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches and are also filming a documentary, “Curveballs,” as a way to inspire others. As Van Sleet put it, “We win more than we lose.”

The team includes Adame, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class who served three tours of duty in Iraq and is a right leg amputee; and Hanson, a motivational speaker who was born without a left hand. They both pride themselves in being mentors to other amputees around the country.

“I went my whole life without my left hand,” Hanson said. “A lot of people always counted me out during my baseball career. I’ve been able to move on and play in college and had a brief stint professionally. Seeing the impact that it has had on other amputees throughout the world and country has been cool. I pride myself on being a mentor now.”

Adame believes his teammates inspire him to play baseball.

“I’m older. If I can do it, I can push those guys to try a little harder,” Adame said. “If we are inspiring people, I think that is great. If we can just help one person lift their spirits to continue their life and make it a little bit better, we are winning.”

Since its inception in 2021, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, led by foundation president Alex Cohen, has funded more than $11.9 million in grants to more than 170 organizations in the community, including the communities surrounding affiliate teams.