PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Frank Viola took the microphone last week and made his declaration, one that drew applause from a crowd of Mets fans gathered at a local pub to hear him speak.
His prediction: Despite plenty of hype surrounding the Dodgers’ brilliant young shortstop Corey Seager, it will be Steven Matz who wins the National League Rookie of the Year award.
“You heard me the other night, didn’t you?” said Viola, the former Cy Young Award winner and the Mets’ Triple-A pitching coach. “I’m going to stick with it. I think Corey Seager is a hell of a ballplayer.