Seven-year-old gifted Alonso’s bat as ‘Met for a Day’

Long Island boy, family treated to special day at camp with hitting tips, moreMarch 11th, 2024

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — To say Mason Maier had a dream experience on Monday afternoon at Clover Park is an understatement. He had such a fun time, even he acknowledged “my friends [on Long Island] would be jealous.”

There he was, practicing with the Mets and doing everything they asked of him. Maier, 7, was doing pitchers’ fielding practice and his throws to first and second were right on the money.

First baseman Pete Alonso gave Maier one of his bats to keep, and he took a few swings in the cage with his new lumber. Maier acknowledged the bat was heavy, but he treated it as if it was his own.

Mason Maier and his new bat at Mets camp“I thought it was awesome he was willing to come out here and participate with the fellas,” Alonso said. “He had such a ball. To be able to see him smile and have a great time with the fellas, it was really good stuff. He was out there competing. It was great. Seeing his energy and passion for the game, it’s super inspiring.”

Mason Maier, Met for a Day, receives pointers from Francisco Lindor and Pete AlonsoThe Mets hosted the dream experience for Maier, who was recently treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at Northwell Health’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center. Mason was honored as a “Met for a Day,” where he was fitted for a full uniform before being introduced to Mets players and coaches.

Mason Maier, Met for a Day“It’s great that an organization like the Mets helps kids like Mason. They do so much for them,” said Mason’s father Jeffery. “To be able to experience something like this and see some of his heroes give him the time, it means the world to him.”

Maier is currently in remission. But in mid-June 2019, Maier began having fevers for prolonged periods of time. He would be lethargic, barely eat, and had bruises on his skin. Mason’s parents would bring him to their primary physician, and the family was told Maier had a virus that was taking longer to get out of his system.

In August of that year, Mason’s mom, Laura Maier, just knew something wasn’t right. She spoke to a hospital employee, who instructed her to bring Mason directly to the Emergency Department of Cohen Children’s Hospital, the fastest way to find out what is wrong.

Mason Maier and his family during their visit to Mets Spring Training, where Mason was honored as ‘Met for a Day.’Quickly after, Mason was admitted and diagnosed for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Mason underwent approximately three years of chemotherapy treatments. He has had multiple long hospital stays from infections or low white cell count and chemo treatments.

Now, Mason is strong, and it looks like he will be playing the game of baseball for a long time. He found out he was going to Florida to work with the Mets two weeks ago.

“I couldn’t contain my excitement, so I told him,” said Laura. “I said [to Mason], ‘What do you think about [going to Florida to play with the Mets]?’ It took him a few days to get it, but he was really excited.”