Matt Yallof, who is the co-host of The Rundown on MLB Networt, wrote a post today that compared L.J. Mazzilli‘s potential rise to Queens, as fitting as it was for the previous Father/Son combos to play with the Mets like, Sandy and Roberto Alomar and Mookie and Preston Wilson did before him.

Yallof shared what the younger Mazzilli’s thoughts are about the possibility of one day suiting up in Queens:

“Honestly, I might faint,” said L.J. 

After being drafted by the Mets this summer and being sent to play with Brooklyn, which ironically was his dad’s hometown, the fans quickly took a liking to L.J.

Yallof shared L.J’s excitement of playing in Brooklyn:

“I felt like a mini-star there in New York for a little bit,” L.J. said. “I was appreciative of all the fans there and tried to interact as much as I could.”

L.J finished 2013 with Brooklyn batting .278/.329/.381, with 12 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 22 walks in 273 at bats.

Will be great to see how L.J. does in his second full season of pro baseball, and if all the stars align the right way, will be great to see another father/son combo wearing the orange and blue.

My original post about L.J. Mazzilli joining the Mets.

When the Mets signed L.J. Mazzilli with the 2013 fourth round pick, they signed more than just a player; they signed a family name that has been a huge part of Mets history. L.J.’s dad, Lee Mazzilli, made his debut with the Mets as well and it’s only fitting that L.J. would start his career with the Cyclones. He’s in the same borough of Brooklyn, where his dad grew up learning the game of baseball.  When the Cyclones opened their doors in 2001, I am sure in the back of the elder Mazzilli’s mind, he thought it would be cool to have his son start his Mets career in the same backyard where he starred. Brooklyn is a special place for baseball lure, and now a familiar name has taken center stage.

L.J. Mazzilli now looks to make a name for himself, and so far, it looks like he is where he belongs. L.J. is batting .303 with seven doubles, eight runs scored, and 54 total bases in 39 games. In the last ten games, including last night’s 4-0 victory over Hudson Valley, L.J. is batting .275 (11 for 40) and has 3 multi-hit games.

In his final season at UConn, L.J. batted .354 (92 for 260), 50 runs, 16 doubles, six home runs, 51 runs batted in, 29 stolen bases in 63 games. In four years at UConn, L.J. was a career .340 hitter. He didn’t hit for power, compiling 21 home runs in his college career, but he did hit for average.  He won’t get promoted to the big club any time this soon, but if he continues to mature as a hitter and develop his skills on the field, the future is bright for the young Mazzilli.

When Mets fans hear the name Mazzilli, we remember the good old days and the 1986 World Series championship team. We remember a player that came from our own backyard and starred on our favorite team. You can bet Mets fans will be rooting for the younger Mazzilli, not because he is Lee Mazzilli’s son, but because the name just brings back so many great memories.

I, like many other Mets fans, look forward to rooting on L.J’s career with the hope he will soon find himself at Citi Field and playing for the same team that made the Mazzilli name famous.

(Photo Credit: John Torenli/Brooklyn Daily Eagle)