Mets Honor Ethan Wilson With Heart Award
The BBWAA New York Chapter recognized Wilson, a Mets media relations staffer since 1999, alongside several other Mets figures at its annual awards event.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Baseball
Ethan Wilson was named co-winner of the BBWAA New York Chapter's Arthur and Milton Richman "You Gotta Have Heart" Award after undergoing emergency brain surgery. The chapter also honored Peter Botte, Francisco and Katia Lindor, Howie Rose, Bo Bichette, and Steve Bieser with other awards.
Why it matters
The awards recognize resilience, community service, and long-term contributions within New York baseball, a tradition the local chapter has upheld for decades. Separately, the Mets hired A.J. Ellis as strategy coordinator, a move that reshapes the club's coaching staff for New York fans.
Ellis caught for Clayton Kershaw in Los Angeles from 2008 to 2016, and Wilson has worked in Mets media relations since 1999. The extraction does not include on-field performance metrics for the honorees.
The players
Ethan Wilson
Wilson is a Mets media relations staffer who was honored with the "You Gotta Have Heart" Award after emergency brain surgery.
A.J. Ellis
Ellis is a former catcher who spent years with the Dodgers and was hired by the Mets as strategy coordinator.
Howie Rose
Rose is a longtime Mets broadcaster who retired in September and previously won the "You Gotta Have Heart" Award in 2023.
Bo Bichette
Bichette is a professional infielder who received the Ben Epstein and Dan Castellano "Good Guy" Award.
Francisco Lindor
Lindor is a Mets shortstop who, with his wife Katia, won the Joan Payson and Shannon Forde Award for community service.
The details
Ethan Wilson was honored after emergency brain surgery and released from the hospital late last month. Peter Botte was recognized for recovering from a severe bacterial infection that led to amputation of much of his lower leg, and later walked his daughter down the aisle at her wedding. Ellis replaces quality assurance coach Danny Barnes, who left the organization in October.
Timeline
1997: Steve Bieser's pinch-running antics in the inaugural Subway Series earned him the "You Could Look It Up" Award.
1999: Ethan Wilson began working in the Mets media relations department.
2008-2016: A.J. Ellis caught for Clayton Kershaw in Los Angeles.
2023: Howie Rose won the "You Gotta Have Heart" Award after overcoming bladder cancer.
October: Danny Barnes left the Mets organization, opening the strategy coordinator role.
Season Trajectory
The honors recognize a Mets organization in transition, with new coaching staff and long-tenured figures like Rose stepping away. The awards also reflect the enduring rivalry that began with the 1997 inaugural Subway Series between New York's two teams.
Mets fans tracking the coaching staff should note that Ellis now oversees strategy, filling the role Danny Barnes held before his October departure. Anyone following the team's front office can expect continuity in player support programs, as the awards highlight the organization's emphasis on community and resilience.
The takeaway
Recognition like the "You Gotta Have Heart" Award highlights how personal resilience and community service shape the culture of a baseball organization. Fans who follow the Mets can watch how these values carry into the team's new coaching structure.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in our Baseball section for context on the Mets and New York's wider baseball scene.
