New York Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo explains why he is skipping the World Baseball Classic: "I would really kick myself if something happened"

WIth memories of 2017 fresh in his mind, New York Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo announced that he will be skipping this year's World Baseball Classic.

Nimmo, who signed an eight-year, $162 million contract extensions this winter, explained that he won't be playing for Team Italy in the 2023 WBC after suffering a hamstring injury during the last tournament in 2017.

"Once I signed, I did consider it, but my past experience was that I did get injured in the last game against Puerto Rico in 2017 and unfortunately with the travel being to Taiwan for Italy this year, I just felt like – you know what? – that’s a risk I can’t take on signing this contract and being with this team and the way that Steve (Cohen) has set it up," Nimmo told reporters on Monday. "I would really kick myself if something happened."

Brandon Nimmo's 2017 injury forced the New York Mets to leave him off that season's Opening Day roster. Nimmo did not get called up to the big league team until mid-June and played in just 69 games with the Mets in 2017.

Fast forward to 2023, and Nimmo is a key member of a New York Mets team with World Series-winning aspirations. He played in a career-high 151 games last season, topping his previous best of 140 games in 2018.

The 29-year-old Nimmo told reporters that he felt he was not prepared to play competitive games on a world stage with the amount of travel that Team Italy would be facing with their group scheduled to play in Asia.

"To be quite honest with you, in order to be prepared for that the right way, I would have even needed to start (working out) a month earlier, and I’m hoping that we’re playing well after this regular season ends," he said. "So, I’m hoping on adding a month to a month-and-a-half of a season after this. We just felt like it was best for the team if I did not (play)."

Brandon Nimmo of Italy can't make a catch during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Brandon Nimmo an important piece for New York Mets

Nimmo has been a member of the New York Mets organization for 12 years. He had his finest season in the big leagues last season, hitting .274 with 16 home runs, 102 runs and 64 RBIs while seizing a long-term place in the lineup and a spot in center field.