It was simply meant to be.
The season was down to its final out with two runners on in a 6-4 game when Dom Smith stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter. Smith had worked tirelessly to get back to 100 percent health before the end of the season, and manager Mickey Callaway said before the game that he wants to get him in.
Well, it was the perfect time to do so.
Smith sent a high fastball over the right center field fence in his first at-bat since July 26th, ending the Mets season in walk-off fashion which is also the first of his career.
"I'm still just lost for words," Smith told reporters after the game.
Callaway spoke the moment into existence when he told his bench coach, Jim Riggleman, that it would be an amazing moment if Smith would just park one and send everyone home.
"I had just said that to Riggs I'd be so awesome if he just walks this off right here with a homer," Callaway explained. "It goes off the bat and you know it's gone. I mean he hit it really good so that's really cool for him to finally come back, stick it out, get back the last couple games of the season and do that. That's awesome."
"This is the start of something great!"
- SNY (@SNYtv) September 29, 2019
Dom Smith with @SteveGelbs after the dramatic win! pic.twitter.com/gUz8tyfQDC
Through all the ups and downs of the season, it was only right that the Mets -- a team that was 10 games under .500 heading into the All-Star break -- would finish 10 games over .500 thanks to a hit by a player like Smith who has been grinding with the rest of the team every day to make their impact on the field.
Breaking spring training with the Mets for the first time in his career, the 24-year-old Smith had his best season thus far. Overall, he finished with a .278/.352/.506 slash line with 11 homers and 25 RBI over 88 games.
So, as he sends his team into the offseason on a high note, Smith knows the grind won't be stopping for everyone in the clubhouse. He knows this team is just getting started. Whether or not he'll be a part of it -- his performance and Pete Alonso playing his natural first base position could make him a trade chip -- will play out this winter.
If he is in Port St. Lucie come February 22, Smith will be ready for the long 2020 season ahead. And his teammates will be as well.
"It just shows the character of the clubhouse. It was 25 guys, we came in everyday, we grinding everyday. We worked hard. Obviously didn't get to where we wanted to go but this is the start of something great," Smith said.