NY Mets spread holiday cheer at club’s giving event at Citi Field
Clay Holmes played Santa Claus, with Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat in elf roles in the Mets’ Holiday Party Dec. 18, 2025, at Citi Field.
NEW YORK — For the better part of a decade, the role of Santa Claus at the New York Mets‘ Kids Holiday Party has been reserved for Brandon Nimmo.
The boundlessly jovial Nimmo once played the role of an elf earlier in his career before taking on a regular part as the Big Guy himself in the event, which welcomes more than 100 kids from Queens elementary schools for a program featuring music, gifts and crafts.
But for the first time, the Mets approached this season’s festive event with a glaring void in the starring role after Nimmo was sent away from New York in a trade with the Texas Rangers.
Thursday’s celebration at Citi Field served as a jarring reminder of what lies ahead for the Mets in 2026, with the noticeable absences of Nimmo, Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz lingering like the Ghosts of the Season Yet to Come.
Into the red suit and white beard stepped one of the few pleasant surprises of a season past: Clay Holmes, with his wife, Ashlyn, serving as Mrs. Claus.
“For a player, it’s a little sad seeing those guys go,” Holmes said after playing the chief role in the proceedings. “They’re great players, they’ve been great Mets for a long time — really connected with the fan base, just as people, as players, even in the clubhouse, they’re great people, so it’s always tough to see those guys go. I hope them the best.
“At the same time, those aren’t easy decisions, I’m sure. I don’t really know all the details behind the scenes, but to make those big decisions, I’m sure there’s got to be some type of growth had, and sometimes it can be a little bit uncomfortable and I guess you just have to trust kind of the direction they’re wanting to go.”
Mets’ young pitchers represent franchise’s future
While much of the soul of the Mets has been peeled away this winter, the promise of what might be around the corner was reflected by the trio of elves in their whimsical green and red tunics. Much like Nimmo, who once served in the role with the optimism around the corner, pitching prospects Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong stepped into those jingle bell-adorned shoes.
“I don’t know who Nolan is. I’m just an elf,” McLean said with a smile. “We got a special group with the Mets, and it’s cool to be around all the guys every single day and just try to push each other to do better.”
Could that trio take the role of the Mets’ newest core? That’s a question to be resolved in the new year.
Sproat said the three starting pitchers have a great friendship. They talk almost every day from baseball to video games to golf.
And in the wake of three gutting departures, the fresh-faced new guard is something that a spurned fan base can rally behind.
“Even though we’re young, I think we bring a lot to the table,” Sproat said.
Those three young pitchers could be the ones helping to bring smiles back to the faces of Mets fans. McLean showcased his dynamic potential in eight games last season, striking out 57 batters in 48 innings while posting a 5-1 record with a 2.06 ERA.
Sproat tossed his first four major league games in September, logging a pair of quality starts in his first two outings before learning the rigors of the highest level in his next two.
Tong, who struck out a minor-league-best 162 batters in 102 innings in Double A, made the massive leap to MLB after just two games at Triple A Syracuse. He offered glimpses of his firepower in five starts, winning a pair, and turning in three starts with at least six strikeouts. There were also the growing pains of two abrupt exits for the 22-year-old righty.
“Obviously very talented. We got to see that last year,” Holmes said of the up-and-coming pitchers. “The velo, kind of the offspeed, the ability to spin stuff, they’re kids that are very driven. You can tell they want to do the right thing and they want to be great. All the tools are there, so it’s exciting to see. Definitely a lot of bright moments ahead with them.”
The baseball world has taken notice of some of that talent. McLean will join Clay Holmes as a member of Team USA’s pitching staff for next year’s World Baseball Classic.
“Just the opportunity to represent my country means the world to me,” McLean said. “I was very surprised but I think they kind of figured it’d be something I’d be passionate about and ready to do.”
That trio’s growth could help check a box for Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns on his mission to correct a run-prevention issue from last season’s shortfall.
Stearns has done some shopping to fill in the gaps on the Mets roster. Marcus Semien came over in the trade with the Rangers. The Mets have signed Jorge Polanco to a two-year deal. In the bullpen, Devin Williams will assume the closer role with Luke Weaver reportedly switching boroughs on a two-year deal.
It could take some time for Mets fans to grow warm with their new team. And there is still time before the snow melts on the Citi Field diamond and opportunities to check a few big-ticket items off the wish list for 2026.
“I know David’s trying to put the best team together that he can to help us win games,” McLean said, “and we trust him to do that.”