Mets give prospect Nick Morabito No. 8, sparking fan backlash

The New York Mets promoted outfield prospect Nick Morabito ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Washington Nationals and issued him No. 8, a number that had not been worn by a Met since 2001.

The Mets have largely kept the number out of circulation in honor of Gary Carter, who helped lead the 1986 Mets to the World Series. Carter spent five seasons with the team and was an All-Star in four of them after starring for the Montreal Expos. With the Mets, the catcher was a fan favorite and an MVP candidate. He played in Queens from 1985 to 1989, and the number has been issued only three times since he left the team, most recently to Desi Relaford in 2001.

The decision drew immediate criticism from fans and longtime Mets play-by-play announcer Howie Rose. "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 posted on X.

The New York Post reported that Morabito will instead be given No. 55. It was too late to make the change Tuesday, so Morabito took the field wearing No. 8.

The Mets have honored more former players since Steve Cohen bought the team from the Wilpons in 2020. Before Cohen's ownership, only the numbers of Casey Stengel, Gil Hodges, Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza were retired. Since then, six numbers have been retired, with a seventh coming this summer. Carter, who died in 2012, has not received that honor. David Wright, Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden, Keith Hernandez, Willie Mays and Jerry Koosman have had their numbers raised in the Citi Field rafters, and Carlos Beltran will join them this year.

Morabito nearly made a spectacular play in left field, but a ball ricocheted off his glove and resulted in an inside-the-park home run for Nationals slugger James Wood. He did make a splendid over-the-wall catch in foul territory.