Antonio Veneziano’s jaw was dropping before he even heard the news. The wide-eyed, 12-year-old New York Mets fan looked in awe as SportsNet New York Mets field reporter Steve Gelbs approached him in the stands.
Wearing a glove, a Francisco Alvarez jersey, a matching 2024 City Connect cap and eye black that covered most of his face, Veneziano looked like he belonged on the diamond.
He was moments from learning he’s actually headed to the booth … as this year’s SNY “Kidcaster.”
Veneziano gently waved as his faint “Hi, Steve” was picked up on the SNY mic.
“Hey, Antonio, what’s up, man?” Gelbs said.
While shaking Gelbs hand, Veneziano’s head swung like Francisco Lindor’s bat, with his mouth gaping in complete shock. Then it came back like a yo-yo as he exclaimed, “Oh my God! He knows my name.”
Gelbs put his arm around Veneziano’s shoulder and said, “I do know your name. You want to know why I know your name?”
Of course, Veneziano wanted that answer.
Not even halfway through Gelbs delivering it, Veneziano could have finished the rest of the sentence.
“Would you like to be the ‘Kidcaster’ with Gary [Cohen], Keith [Hernandez] and Ron [Darling] on July 22?”
Without hesitation, Veneziano took the offer.
“I would love to,” he said with emotion shaking his voice. “Really?”
Gelbs confirmed this was really happening and praised Veneziano’s audition, which he said featured some “pretty spectacular” home run calls. Gelbs then asked if Veneziano could give viewers a sneak peek. He obliged and gave his best play-by-play narration of a Lindor dinger to right field.
It was a wholesome moment halfway through the first game of New York’s doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday. The Mets lost 7-2, but Veneziano still came out a winner.
According to Gelbs, Veneziano emerged as SNY’s “Kidcaster” despite a record number of entries.
The Kidcaster program invites one fan ages 9-12 every year to call an inning of a Mets game alongside SNY’s announcers.
Veneziano is on deck.
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