Mets star Marcus Stroman has big plans for cleats he designed

PORT ST. LUCIE — Marcus Stroman got tired of wearing what he perceived as inferior cleats, so he designed his own.

The Mets right-hander says he spent the last two years developing a cleat under the SHUGO brand, incorporating his personality and desire for safety on the mound. Stroman previously tore an anterior cruciate ligament while pitching for the Blue Jays.

“It’s a brand that literally has incorporated everything from color schemes, my story, my journey, all the way up to cleat production,” Stroman said Sunday after pitching three innings in the Mets 4-4 exhibition tie with the Marlins. “It’s the safest cleat for your knees, for your body, as far as flexibility, as far as plate. I kind of created a cleat with my doctors and with the team to put my body in the best position out there.”

Stroman’s design includes his graduation date from Duke, which he referred to as “the biggest accomplishment in my life.” He says his next goal is to get more athletes wearing his brand.

“I get chills thinking about that,” Stroman said. “That is going to be my next goal — I just want to wear them this year myself and I would love to see the young wave of generation get them on their feet.”


Jose Martinez sustained a twisted left knee on an evident collision with first-base umpire Greg Gibson while attempting to field a grounder near the bag. Martinez had to be helped from the field and was carted to the Mets clubhouse. He may receive an MRI exam Monday, according to manager Luis Rojas.

“He is telling us he thought there was a collision [with Gibson],” Rojas said. “I don’t know if there was, I have to see the video again. I feel the landing had to do with [the injury] more, because he’s trying to avoid a bigger collision there as he is going to the ball.”


Jerry Blevins was charged with the blown save after allowing one run on one hit and one walk in the sixth inning. The 37-year-old lefty reliever, who pitched for the Mets from 2015-18, signed a minor league deal with the club over the winter.

“I want to win a World Series,” said Blevins, who worked in the SNY studio last season. “Literally, the only team I would have come back for is the Mets. My body still feels great. I still have analytics that say my stuff is still the same, so I am still there and I still have that drive.

“They are a World Series competitor, so it’s going to be tough to make this team, but I still feel that I have an opportunity to do that.”


Carlos Carrasco’s first Grapefruit League start this spring will likely come this week, at some point after Wednesday’s blank day on the schedule, according to Rojas. Carrasco was late beginning workouts with the team after receiving additional medical testing and the COVID-19 vaccine.

source: nypost.com