On February 6, the New York Mets made the pivotal decision to designate right-handed reliever Austin Adams for assignment, effectively removing him from their 40-man roster. This move, often a bittersweet moment in any player's career, eventually led Adams to find a new home with the Oakland Athletics through a cash deal as spring training progressed.
Although initially seen as a shift aimed more at logistics than a strategic gamble, Adams has since proven his worth in the Athletics' bullpen. At 33 years old, Adams has carved out a niche for himself, demonstrating a stable performance with the Athletics. His current stats showcase a 3.92 ERA and 53 strikeouts over 41 1/3 innings—a credible accomplishment for any reliever looking to solidify his place in Major League Baseball.
A High-Stakes Performance
Adams's perseverance and talent were on full display on Tuesday night at Citi Field when the Athletics squared off against his former team, the Mets, emerging victorious with a 9-4 win. In a critical moment, Adams was called upon to navigate out of a high-pressure situation in the fifth inning with runners on first and second and no outs. Once again, he did not disappoint; he struck out catcher Francisco Alvarez to end the inning, preserving Oakland's advantage.
After the crucial strikeout, Adams indulged in an imitation of the Mets' celebrated "OMG" routine—an exuberant gesture athletes typically reserve for big moments such as hitting home runs. This celebration has seen its cultural Iconography tied to Mets infielder Jose Iglesias' song "OMG," released in June and performed at Citi Field after a Mets win on June 28. Although the playful gesture might have seemed innocent enough, it sparked mixed emotions.
Mixed Reactions to Adams's Celebration
"Honestly, I looked up and was so surprised I got out of it. I was like, 'Oh my gosh.' And then it dawned on me, I was like, 'Oh my gosh.' So then I did it. I mean, that song is sick. Iglesias is a good dude. So hopefully no one is offended. Just having fun," Adams told the New York Post. The celebratory move was clearly an unprompted, spontaneous act driven by the excitement of the moment.
Nevertheless, not everyone took Adams's actions lightly. Mets closer Edwin Díaz voiced his discontent following the incident. "He crossed a line because that's something we do when we hit a homer or something. He (can) do it always, that's fine. But he can't get mad if we do something to him the next couple of days," lamented Díaz.
The Emotional Rollercoaster
Adams did not shy away from admitting that he lets his emotions take the steering wheel during games. "I pitch on emotion. I maybe need to do a better job of not doing that. But at the end of the day, big time situation in a game. Got some big outs, got the team a win. You know, when you get DFAed you're told you're not good enough to play for a team anymore. You know it sucks, so yeah, had a little extra juice today," he reflected.
For Adams, the journey from getting designated for assignment by the Mets to playing a key role in their opponents' bullpen has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Tuesday night's victory marked the Athletics' third consecutive win, highlighting a positive trend in their performance. Meanwhile, the Mets continued to grapple with their own struggles, extending their losing streak to four games and finding themselves two games behind the third wild-card spot.
As the season progresses, each game holds more significant stakes. For Adams, these moments of triumph are not merely about points on a scoreboard but chapters in a narrative of resurgence and vindication. This story of perseverance offers a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in baseball, turning today's underdogs into tomorrow's heroes.