Belfast-born lefthander PJ Conlon will pitch for the Mets in Cincinnati on Monday. Here’s everything you need to know:
It’s a big day for Irish baseball fans as one of our own starts in the MLB tonight. Belfast-born P.J. Conlon will debut for the New York Mets when they face-off against the Reds in Cincinnati. Here’s are five top facts about the Irish player:
1. Why is everyone getting excited about P.J. Conlon and the Mets now?
Making his starting debut for the Mets tonight, Conlon will become the first Irish person to play Major League Baseball in 73 years. The last was the Washington Senators Joe Cleary who played in 1945. Conlon is also the first player from Belfast to play since 1909.
Read more: Irish-born Mets pitcher first to start in MLB in 73 years
2. Where in Ireland is P.J. Conlon from?
P.J. Conlon was born in Belfast on November 11, 1993, and moved to California when he was a two-year-old.
3. What is P.J. Conlon’s career history?
Conlon opened his career in the New York-Penn League before splitting his time in Columbia of the South Atlantic League and St. Lucie in the Florida State League in 2016. His performance earned him the Mets 2016 MiLB pitcher of the year honors.
4. P.J. Conlon’s family tree:
“My dad is from Ireland and my mom is from Scotland,” Conlon told IrishCentral several years ago.
“They met in California, married, then went back to Belfast where I was born. We came back to Orange County when I was 2-years-old.”
5. Who is P.J. Conlon’s girlfriend?
Conlon and his girlfriend Jackie are pretty adorable on Instagram!
Best of luck, P.J.!
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