Isiah Kiner-Falefa has taken pride since his youth in knowing he was a cousin to a Hall of Fame slugger/Mets broadcasting legend.
And for the first time on Monday, the Pirates infielder received the opportunity to meet that part of the family.
Kiner-Falefa and Scott Kiner, the late Ralph Kiner’s son, embraced in the press conference room at Citi Field before the Mets’ series opener win, 4-3, against the Pirates.
Scott Kiner said he verified last year through genealogy that his great-great-grandmother (Mary McPherrin Kiner, from Western Pennsylvania) was Kiner-Falefa’s great-great-great-grandmother on his mother’s side.
Kiner-Falefa was presented with a charcoal painting of Ralph Kiner, who worked Mets broadcasts from 1962-2013 following a 10-year major league career — mostly with the Pirates — during which he hit 369 home runs.
“I just try to wear the name with a lot of pride, and now having the opportunity to play for the Pirates, it’s very special to me,” said Kiner-Falefa, who played for the Yankees in 2022-23. “To finally meet [Scott Kiner], it’s like a dream come true.”
Kiner-Falefa, who was raised in Hawaii, never got to meet his famous cousin.
But he recalled attending one Mets game growing up. It just happened to be July 14, 2007, when the Mets honored Kiner at Shea Stadium.
“My grandpa had always told me stories,” Kiner-Falefa said. “So for me to go to one Mets game and it be Kiner Night, I couldn’t believe it. I had no idea what I was walking into.”
Scott Kiner is promoting his new book, “One of a Kiner,” which details his father’s life.
“This is like a happy ending in the book,” Scott Kiner said. “This is pretty cool.”
Kiner-Falefa said he’s seen “tidbits” online of Kiner’s broadcasting work and would like to take that route once his playing career is finished.
“When I was 8 years old, I became obsessed with baseball,” Kiner-Falefa said. “Obsessed with Ralph Kiner.”
Paul Blackburn is scheduled for a rehab start Friday with Triple-A Syracuse.
The right-hander has pitched twice in the minor leagues since his rehab clock was reset two weeks ago following a stomach virus. Blackburn opened the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right knee.
Sean Manaea has begun throwing from the mound in his rehab from an oblique strain. … The Mets, in conjunction with New York-Presbyterian Hospital, will offer free prostate cancer screening before Tuesday’s game for ticketed fans, gameday employees, NYPD working at Citi Field and media members.
The blood tests will take place in the Heineken Diamond Lounge on the fifth level.
All who are tested will receive a voucher good for two complimentary tickets to a selected home game.
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