A raccoon became the unlikely star at Citi Field, and for a fan base starved for anything upbeat, that said plenty about where the Mets season stands.
The animal was caught on video reaching through a hole in the concrete and snatching peanuts from the stands. The clip took off on social media fast, with Barstool Sports giving it the kind of blunt punch that made the joke land. “This raccoon is the only one to find enjoyment at a Mets game all season,” the account posted.
That line hit because the Mets have given people very little else to celebrate. New York sits near the bottom of the NL East at 58-70, and a season that came with big expectations and a massive payroll has mostly turned into frustration.
The disappointment has already led to major change. The 2026 season opened with renewed hope, but things went sideways, and the club fired manager Carlos Mendoza in late June. Andy Green stepped in as interim skipper and has guided a slight improvement since then, but the Mets are still nowhere near contention.
Owner Steve Cohen has already acknowledged how badly things have gone, and the offseason spending spree on free agents and trades has not produced the kind of return the team wanted. The mood around Citi Field has reflected that. Attendance and atmosphere have both taken a hit, and plenty of fans are simply worn down by another lost year.
That’s what made the raccoon clip resonate. The video shows the animal working carefully, pulling peanut shells through the opening and doing it with real focus.
It got the job done, and viewers immediately started joking that the raccoon showed more hustle than some Mets players. One fan even pointed to the creature’s better production than certain Mets hitters.
Citi Field has seen wildlife before, but this one arrived at exactly the right moment to become the clearest highlight of recent weeks. The Mets have picked up a few recent wins against lesser competition, which has brought a little momentum, but the overall picture in 2026 is still bleak.
So for now, the most enjoyable Mets performance of the season may belong to a raccoon with a peanut habit.
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