Isiah Kiner-Falefa has taken pleasure since his youth in understanding he was a cousin to a Corridor of Fame slugger/Mets broadcasting legend.
And for the primary time on Monday, the Pirates infielder obtained the chance to satisfy that a part of the household.
Kiner-Falefa and Scott Kiner, the late Ralph Kiner’s son, embraced within the press convention room at Citi Area earlier than the Mets’ sequence opener win, 4-3, towards the Pirates.
Scott Kiner mentioned he verified final 12 months via family tree that his great-great-grandmother (Mary McPherrin Kiner, from Western Pennsylvania) was Kiner-Falefa’s great-great-great-grandmother on his mom’s aspect.
Kiner-Falefa was introduced with a charcoal portray of Ralph Kiner, who labored Mets broadcasts from 1962-2013 following a 10-year main league profession — principally with the Pirates — throughout which he hit 369 house runs.
“I simply attempt to put on the title with plenty of pleasure, and now having the chance to play for the Pirates, it’s very particular to me,” mentioned Kiner-Falefa, who performed for the Yankees in 2022-23. “To lastly meet [Scott Kiner], it’s like a dream come true.”
Kiner-Falefa, who was raised in Hawaii, by no means obtained to satisfy his well-known cousin.
However he recalled attending one Mets recreation rising up. It simply occurred to be July 14, 2007, when the Mets honored Kiner at Shea Stadium.
“My grandpa had all the time advised me tales,” Kiner-Falefa mentioned. “So for me to go to at least one Mets recreation and it’s Kiner Evening, I couldn’t consider it. I had no concept what I used to be strolling into.”
Scott Kiner is selling his new e book, “One in all a Kiner,” which particulars his father’s life.
“This is sort of a completely happy ending within the e book,” Scott Kiner mentioned. “That is fairly cool.”
Kiner-Falefa mentioned he’s seen “tidbits” on-line of Kiner’s broadcasting work and want to take that route as soon as his enjoying profession is completed.
“After I was 8 years previous, I turned obsessive about baseball,” Kiner-Falefa mentioned. “Obsessive about Ralph Kiner.”
Paul Blackburn is scheduled for a rehab begin Friday with Triple-A Syracuse.
The proper-hander has pitched twice within the minor leagues since his rehab clock was reset two weeks in the past following a abdomen virus. Blackburn opened the season on the injured listing with irritation in his proper knee.
Sean Manaea has begun throwing from the mound in his rehab from an indirect pressure. … The Mets, along with New York-Presbyterian Hospital, will supply free prostate most cancers screening earlier than Tuesday’s recreation for ticketed followers, gameday workers, NYPD working at Citi Area and media members.
The blood assessments will happen within the Heineken Diamond Lounge on the fifth stage.
All who’re examined will obtain a voucher good for 2 complimentary tickets to a specific house recreation.
