NEW YORK (AP) – Banker-turned-assistant Nate Fisher found out the hard way Monday that baseball really is a numbers game.
A day after a stellar major league debut that lit up the sports world, Fisher was cut by the New York Mets.
The NL East leaders took a step toward a two-game Subway series against the New York Yankees. In fact, Fisher was actually in the Mets’ clubhouse at Yankee Stadium two hours before the start of the game and was then designated for assignment.
Now completely off the 40-man roster, Fisher could be traded or placed on waivers during the seven-day period. If he is not claimed, he could be reassigned to the minors with the Mets.
If he were to start these games against the Yankees, the 26-year-old lefty likely wouldn’t be able to pitch after pitching three scoreless innings against Philadelphia on Sunday. And as Metsu needed fresh weapons, he was fired.
“I think these guys know where we’re at,” manager Buck Showalter said after the 4-2 loss to the Yankees. “They understand what’s going on as far as trying to keep our bullpen going through a really tough, long stretch with Atlanta, four before in Philadelphia and trying to get through here.”
“So they understand, but it’s still kind of hard to have those conversations,” he said.
The move came while many were still enjoying the sheer awesomeness of Fisher’s journey.
After once giving up his baseball career and moving into the financial world with a job in Nebraska, he shined in his debut.
Fisher allowed just one hit against the Phillies, giving the Mets a chance to bounce back in a game they eventually won 10-9.
From deciding whether to approve commercial loans at First National Bank of Omaha in June 2021 to throwing the pennant at Citizens Bank Park in 2022.
“It’s pretty surreal right now,” Fisher said after the game. “I am so grateful and so blessed for the opportunity. It hasn’t even sunk in yet.”
Fisher gave up one hit, walked two and hit one. His outing lasted 46 minutes after the rain, which made his work all the more valuable.
When he was introduced and headed to the mound to start the fifth inning, fans weren’t the only ones wondering about the newcomer.
“I didn‘t even know who that guy was when he came into the game today,” said Mark Canha, who hit two home runs in the win.
Fisher went undrafted out of the University of Nebraska and then played 12 games at Single-A for the Seattle Mariners organization in 2019.
In light of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, Fisher has left baseball to join the former coach in the world of banking in 2020 in his hometown. He re-signed with the Mariners last summer and reached Triple-A.
This year in the Mets system, Fisher was 0-1 with a 3.77 ERA in 12 games at Double-A Binghamton and 1-2 with a 3.12 ERA in 12 games at Triple-A Syracuse before the call-up before Sunday’s game.
And hours later, he was on the mound.
“This is my dream,” he said after that outing — his only big league appearance for now.
For more information on the New York Mets, go to Inside The Mets.
