Photo by Al Rabon

It was a year ago when David Thompson, P.J. Conlon, and Vinny Siena met in Port St. Lucie, FL at the New York Mets baseball facility. When they were assigned to play for the Brooklyn Cyclones in the NY-Penn League each agreed they should room together, even though each are from different areas of the country.

When the three got word they would be going to Columbia to join the Fireflies they had already decided they would be renting an apartment together when they arrived. I asked Vinny Siena how they got along with each other since they spend almost 24 hours together every day. Siena stated “we get along great and have never had any problems.”

Thompson was a 4th round pick out of Miami, Conlon a 13th round pick from San Diego, and Siena was a 14th rounder from UConn. You couldn’t find three locations that are so different, with Conlon coming from a tourist area, Thompson from a big party city, and Siena from a small town in Woodbridge, CT. All three are pretty laid back and are not your typical party type guys.

All three are family oriented, wanting to spend much of their free time with family and friends when they come for a visit to Columbia. Each one has their own way of getting away from the pressure that baseball brings, Vinny likes to relax by hanging out with friends and watching TV, David likes to hang out with friends and family (cousin) or take a trip to the beach, and P.J. enjoys playing NHL video games.

Each come from different areas but they all have the same goal, which is to play for the New York Mets one day. Each has brought a confidence with them for the 2016 season, they know they haven’t arrived and they have work to do to fulfill their dream of playing with the New York Mets.

David Thompson struggled at times in Brooklyn in 59 games hitting only (.218) but the organization could see the talent and knew with a full season it would come out and his numbers would be better. The Mets organization has not been disappointed, so far in 2016 Thompson is hitting (.288) with Columbia and leads the SAL in RBI (49).

Siena played in 68 games with Brooklyn and was an All-Star in the NY-Penn League hitting (.273). Siena has continued his good play in Columbia hitting (.291) and has the second most walks (51) in the SAL.

Conlon pitched out of the bullpen at Brooklyn last year appearing in 17 games (17 IP) without allowing an earned run. Moving into 2016 the Mets organization wanted to see Conlon as a starter and so coming out of spring training P.J. was put in the Columbia Fireflies starting rotation. Conlon has not disappointed anyone with his pitching effort thus far and as proof of his stuff (8-1, 1.84) he will be the starting pitcher for the Southern Division in the SAL All-Star game Tuesday night.

Each echoed the same thing when asked about making the SAL All-Star game. Vinny commented, “We all have talent”, Siena commenting about all the players on the Fireflies team. P.J. and David went on to say that making the All-Star game was an honor and it’s nice to be recognized for what we have done through the first half of the season. But, Vinny stated that “it’s more about how you finish that’s more important” and Thompson added “I was excited when I heard” the news about making the All-Star team but like Vinny said it’s going to be more about how we finish.

When you see these guys on the field and the intensity they have, you see they are hungry to reach their goal of playing with the Mets in the next few years. I have been watching them since their first game at Spirit Communications Park the home of the Columbia Fireflies and when you see them before a game, you can see their excitement they have to play a game that’s made for young boys.

From signing autographs to doing head stands before a game, they understand what it’s going to take to get to the big leagues but they want to have fun along the way.