Brandon Nimmo

Born on March 27, 1993, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Brandon Tate Nimmo is an accomplished American professional baseball player, best known for his role as an outfielder for the celebrated New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). Being drafted by the Mets in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft was a milestone in his life, and he subsequently made his reputable MLB debut with the team in 2016. His fascinating journey in the world of baseball was forged by his dedicated parents Ron, a certified public accountant origin from La Junta, Colorado, and Patti Nimmo. Brandon ranks as the eldest sibling in his family, followed by his brother, Bryce, a successful college baseball player for Nebraska Cornhuskers, and a sister, Kristen.

Ironically, Brandon’s dream as a child was not to be a baseball player but to become a bull rider. Nevertheless, his love for baseball was forged by his childhood admiration for the Colorado Rockies. When the time came for him to attend high school, he chose Cheyenne East High School, situated in his place of birth. His time in high school was marked by his involvement in American Legion baseball, as Wyoming, one of the three US states not offering high school baseball, was home.

His brilliant baseball showmanship in 2010, where he recorded a .448 batting average with 15 home runs and 34 stolen bases in 70 games for his club, Post 6, caught the eye of the Mets. After gaining co-MVP honours with pitcher Nick Burdi at the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game with a 2 for 4 scoreline, a triple, two runs scored and two runs batted in, Baseball America rated him among the top 50 prospects for the upcoming 2011 draft at number 35.

In becoming the Mets’ 13th overall pick in the 2011 MLB draft, Nimmo set a high record as a Wyomingite. The young and ambitious 18-year-old signed a deal worth $2.1 million, which saw him miss a verbal commitment to attend the University of Arkansas if left unsigned.

Nimmo’s professional baseball career officially kicked off with ten games spread across the Gulf Coast Mets and the Kingsport Mets. By the end of 2011, he had a challenging .211 batting average with four runs batted in. His performance, however, improved significantly the following year, which he spent with the Brooklyn Cyclones. This time, he batted .248 and recorded six home runs and forty RBIs in 266 at bats.

By 2013, Nimmo’s incredible performance continued to surge. He began the season with the Savannah Sand Gnats and was ranked the fourth among Mets prospects. Despite struggles with a wrist injury and modest performance in Savannah, a ballpark known to be tough on lefty power hitters, Nimmo posted a .273 average, two home runs and forty RBIs.

The 2014 season saw Nimmo start with Class-A Advanced St. Lucie Mets. He hit a .322 score, with four home runs, 25 RBIs, .448 OBP and .458 SLG, quickly earning the FSL All-Star honors. He was upgraded to the Double-A Binghamton Mets in June, eventually finishing the season with a .278 average, 10 home runs and 51 RBIs.

The 2015 season began with a brief stint with the St. Lucie, after which he was promoted to the Binghamton Mets. An unfortunate knee injury that led to missed games, followed by a brief time at Triple-A Las Vegas 51s, ended with a batting average of .297 from 34 games.

2016 was a defining year for Nimmo as he was finally promoted to the major leagues to replace Michael Conforto. Despite an initial challenging performance, Nimmo’s major league debut against the Atlanta Braves marked the start of his sterling career in MLB.

Onward from 2016, Nimmo’s career faced several ups and downs, including injuries, his part in Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic, and a significant improvement in the 2018 season where he led majors in hit by pitch, with 20.

Going through 2019 was tough for Brandon, facing a severe neck injury that sidelined him for most of the season. However, he bounced back seamlessly in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, hitting .280 with 8 home runs and 18 RBIs.

In 2021, Nimmo missed most of May and all of June due to a bruised hand. However, despite the setback, he finished the 2021 season impressively with a batting average of .292. He successfully retained his place with the Mets on an eight-year $162 million contract.

Now, Nimmo is set to play the left field while new acquisition Harrison Bader will play center field in 2024. His transformation from the young boy who wanted to become a bull rider to now being one of the 16 players to hit at least 100 home runs in a Mets uniform is nothing short of inspirational.

Away from the field, Nimmo’s life is just as remarkable. He is happily married to Chelsea Bradley since 2017. Besides his successful career, his strong Christian faith is central to his life.