Meet the 7-foot-2 fan impressing former Mets players

NEW YORK -- The Mets recently had their fantasy camp in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Mets fan Alan Herbert stole the show. Herbert is dealing with Stage 4 melanoma, but one would not have been able to tell from his performance.

Herbert, 51, was engaging during camp and thrilled to build friendships with former Mets such as Doug Flynn, Turk Wendell and Ron Swoboda. It’s not hard to recognize Herbert; he’s 7-foot-2 but doesn't display the all-around skills like David Wright or the power of Darryl Strawberry. In fact, Herbert will be the first to tell you that his baseball skills need work.

Herbert was glad that he was put in right field because there wasn’t much action while playing the position. He was the designated hitter once in a while. Herbert has been going to Mets fantasy camp since 2017 and he is proud to say that he has collected a combined 35 hits during those six years. That stat makes him happy, because “baseball is a tricky game. It’s not an easy game to play.”

“I found fantasy camp to be a receptive place,” Herbert said via telephone. “People are so encouraging and congratulatory when things go well. It’s really hard when you get there not to feel like you are walking on clouds. The atmosphere is so positive and so much fun. You are developing friendships and learning a new game.”

When he first saw Herbert, Flynn thought the London, England, native was just visiting one of his friends at the camp.

“The first time I saw him, I didn’t know he was going to be there to play at the camp,” said Flynn, a liaison at the camp. “I thought he was a friend of somebody who just wandered in. He has become a favorite of everybody at camp, from campers and pros alike. He is such a good man and he is a humble person. He is not afraid to make fun of himself. He let us have fun with him. Anything you ask him to do, it was, 'Yes, yes, yes.'”

While growing up in England, Herbert’s first love was soccer. Baseball didn’t come into his life until 2007 when he visited the Mets Clubhouse Store in Manhattan and bought a Pedro Martinez jersey. So he started watching the Mets sparingly. Then on June 1, 2012, Herbert became a die-hard Mets fan after left-hander Johan Santana pitched the team’s first no-hitter against the Cardinals. He now watches the Mets on Sky Box.

“[After Santana pitched the no-hitter], I said, 'We are on to something here,'” Herbert said.

After watching the Mets advance to the NL Wild Card Series in 2022, Herbert believes the Mets will go even further in '23. It helps that New York acquired right-hander Justin Verlander and re-signed outfielder Brandon Nimmo.

“[Owner] Steve Cohen feels like a person who wants the Mets to succeed. He is prepared to put a lot out there to make it happen,” Herbert said. “The feel-good atmosphere around the Mets is great right now.”

Herbert plans to be around to watch the Mets win their first World Series title since 1986 and to continue attending the club's fantasy camp. How is he feeling these days? Great, Herbert said.

“I’ve had some good medical results this last week and it looks very favorable as we go forward. If all the T's are crossed, we should be able to give up the treatment in April,” Herbert said.