In a much anticipated live batting practice session, Johan Santana finally faced batters as a member of the New York Mets.

David Lennon in Newsday relays what went on down in snow-less Port St. Lucie:

Everyone gathered at Field 6 to see Johan Santana, but the star of the session was 25-year-old catcher, Solomon Manriquez, who took Santana deep into the trees beyond the centerfield fence.

Could you imagine being a minor-leaguer facing Santana, and jacking one over the wall? Sure, it’s his first session in spring training, but Manriquez has to be on cloud nine right now.

Update: Jeremy Cothran posts a recap of the pitches on his NJ.com blog:

David Wright — took four straight pitches and then hit a weak tapper to third.
Olmedo Saenz — foul ball, pop up, pop up, changeup low, fastball high.
Ryan Church — fastball strike, fastball strike, changeup low, single to right, changeup outside.
Damion Easley — crushed a ball foul, fastball low, pop out, fastball high, single to left.
Salomon Manriquez — foul ball, foul ball, home run left-center, foul.

Overkill much?

Filed under: Johan Santana