Just because it is spring training does not mean there is a lack of intensity with each at-bat.
That was evident in Sunday’s Mets game against the Cardinals, when utility infielder Luis Guillorme stepped into the box to face St. Louis Cardinals flame-throwing reliever Jordan Hicks.
It was actually the first game action for the Cardinals right-hander in nearly two years, as he underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of 2019 and opted out of the 2020 season.
But Hicks, who quickly earned a reputation for lighting up the radar gun with his triple-digit fastball, lasted just one batter — and what an at-bat it was.
Guillorme, a left-handed hitting Mets infielder better known for his glove than his bat, quickly fell behind against Hicks 0-2, but then things got interesting.
Hicks missed with a sinker and Guillorme proceeded to foul off the next five pitches before finally working the count full on the 12th pitch of the at-bat.
But Guillorme was just getting started.
The Mets infielder fouled off NINE more pitches, including a 101 mph sinker on the 17th pitch before Hicks finally missed a sinker low on the 22nd pitch of the at-bat to end with a walk.
Guillorme, in total, fouled off an astounding 16 pitches in the at-bat to stay alive.
The battle between Guillorme and one of the league’s hardest-throwing relief pitchers had the Mets dugout buzzing — with players standing at the top steps during the at-bat cheering him on with Pet Alonso leading the charge.
Dom Smith may have summed it up perfectly as cameras caught him knocking his hat off and looking on in utter disbelief.
Fans, media on Twitter also seemed to have some fun with the moment as well, which also included a tweet from Hicks’ Cardinals teammate Jack Flaherty.
The fellas at Cespedes Family BBQ also shared some remarkable stats regarding the quality of pitches Hicks was throwing to Guillorme.
The Cardinals needed to remove Hicks after the at-bat, but the umpires would not allow manager Mike Schildt to do so because of the league’s 3-batter minimum.
The Cardinals instead sent the trainer out to evaluate Hicks and were able to use that as a loophole to pull him since his work was obviously done for the day.
What a spring training moment.
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