New York Mets welcome in families of slain NYPD officers

Friday was a big day for the New York Mets. Not only did the face of the franchise, Matt Harvey, make his long awaited return to the mound with a bang, but they also welcomed in a group of very special guests at their spring training home in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Adam Rubin of ESPN New York explained how the Mets setup two new lockers in the clubhouse that displayed the name "Ramos."

Justin and Jaden Ramos, who are the sons of slain NYPD officer Rafael Ramos, are currently special guests of captain David Wright and the Mets through the entire weekend. Their father was of course attacked and killed along with his partner, Wenjian Liu, this past December in Brooklyn, New York.

Wright, who also spoke with the boys in December, shortly after the tragedy occurred, explained how difficult that phone call was.

"I think it was Christmas Eve. You've got a couple of kids who just lost their father. I have no idea what to say. The only thing I really could say is to just offer my condolences and let them know that their father is a hero and how much I appreciate what their father did for the community, the city," said Wright.

Today though marked the arrival of the Ramos and Liu families to Mets spring training.

Wright's father served as an assistant police chief in Norfolk, Virginia, where he grew up. Needless to say, the story hit home for the Mets third baseman.

"The fact that they took the offer to come down and hang out means a lot to us, because obviously with my situation with my father, we've got a very close relationship with the police department," Wright said. "To have part of that [extended police] family down here means a lot.

"Even if they weren't Mets fans, I grew up with a police officer as a father. The phone call was more about that and not baseball or the Mets."

With Harvey pitching two perfect innings in his return to the mound, the Mets hope Friday, March 6 is the start of something special in 2015.

Next up for the Mets will be the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins in a Saturday split squad edition, notes MLB.

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