Former Met Benny Agbayani excited to see his son Bruin 'continuing the legacy' with his old club

The fastball came flying toward the plate, only to be sent flying back into the October night and toward the bleachers. The Mets outfielder with the nickname “Hawaiian Punch” slugged it — No. 50, Benny Agbayani.

“Agbayani hits it to deep left-center . . . 13th inning . . . Mets win Game 3!”

That was Joe Buck’s call on Fox of Agbayani’s signature major-league moment, Oct. 7, 2000. His walk-off solo shot against Aaron Fultz rocked Shea Stadium and gave the Mets a 3-2 win over San Francisco for a 2-1 edge in the National League Division Series, which the Mets took en route to losing to the Yankees in the Subway Series.

Agbayani was a favorite of Mets fans during his four seasons here, a run that carried through 2001.

The Mets surely won’t be headed to the postseason this October. They’re in last place and serving as sellers before Monday’s trade deadline.

They sold off the first veteran trade chip after Thursday night’s win over Miami at Citi Field, sending reliever A.J. Minter to Minnesota.

The exchange brought the Mets power-hitting Double-A first/third baseman Billy Amick and a 19-year-old Class A shortstop/second baseman from Honolulu, Bruin Agbayani — Benny’s son.

“I was shocked,” the elder Agbayani said Friday from Hawaii. “I didn’t think he was going to get traded. To have this come true, sometimes it’s a blessing and sometimes you never know. But it’s great to have him wearing a Mets jersey and continuing the legacy.”

His son earned Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior in 2025 at Saint Louis School in Honolulu. The Twins took him in the sixth round. MLB Pipeline had him as Minnesota’s 29th-ranked prospect at midseason this year.

“He wanted to get drafted by the Mets when he first was coming out of high school,” said Benny, a 30th-round pick by the Mets in 1993. “That’s all he knew. That’s all we talked about. But it’s a great opportunity for him.

“ . . . I’m going to tell him the ins and outs of playing in New York because it’s tough.”

Bobby Valentine was Benny’s manager with the Mets and then in Japan for the final six seasons of his career. Valentine is very familiar with his former player’s kids.

“I’ve known Bruin since he was born,” Valentine wrote in an email to Newsday. “He is in love with the game of baseball. He is still young and developing. His two sisters are also great softball players.

“He is the type of player every team wants. Lefthanded hitter. Has speed and power. Can play middle infield positions and centerfield. Still developing.”

But he hasn’t played since May 12, as he has been rehabbing after right shoulder surgery.

So this 6-2, 185-pound player has participated in only 10 games this season, batting .268 with six RBIs for Fort Myers in the Florida State League.

“He’s on his way back,” his 54-year-old dad said.

The elder Agbayani, who played five seasons overall in the majors, batted .282 and had an .833 OPS across 322 games with the Mets.

He’s enthused about his son’s potential.

“He’s growing into his swing,” Benny said. “I think he’ll be one of those great players for New York. I think he’s better than me. He’s much stronger.”

And if that day comes and he sees his son playing for the Mets?

“It’s going to be kind of emotional because it’s been a long time,” Benny said. “I hope he does. I hope he can wear that No. 50 up in the big leagues, or whatever number he gets, and stay there in the Mets’ organization.”