New York Mets veteran infielder Robinson Cano is the owner of the first home run of the 2022 edition of Jackie Robinson Day.
Every year, on April 15, all teams honor and celebrate Robinson’s achievements by wearing number 42.
Cano is making sure everybody remembers his 2022 Jackie Robinson Day performance.
The 39-year-old infielder sent a Zach Davies pitch into the left-center field stands to give the Mets a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Canó, watch it go!
The first HR on Jackie Robinson Day belongs to @RobinsonCano. #Jackie42 pic.twitter.com/lgTxsru0HL
— MLB (@MLB) April 15, 2022
He is eager to show that the year he spent out of baseball while serving a suspension didn’t take any of his offensive abilities.
Indeed, his sweet left-handed swing remains just as we knew it.
Cano Was Off To A Slow Start In 2022
Cano is surely happy that his first home run of 2022 came on Jackie Robinson Day.
He was off to a slow start at the plate, slashing .200/.250/.200 in 16 plate appearances before Friday’s game.
However, it’s still early to draw any conclusions: we will need more data before declaring him toast or still an offensive force.
Because of the Mets’ infield depth and populated designated hitter rotation, Cano may not play every day, but he will get his fair share of plate appearances nonetheless.
During his last season with the Mets, in 2020 (where the pandemic limited the campaign to just 60 games), Cano hit a solid .316/.352/.544 with 10 home runs in 49 games, solid production that earned him a .896 OPS.
He was then caught using performance-enhancing drugs and suspended for the whole 2021 season without pay.
The 2022 campaign, therefore, is a perfect opportunity for him to show he still has it.
The Mets need his left-handed bat to stay in shape, even if its contributions come in small bunches.
NEXT: Mets Stars Wearing Special Jackie Robinson Day Cleats