Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) – Running a professional baseball team isn’t all about bats, gloves, and highlight plays. For Syracuse Mets General Manager Jason Smorol, every day is about keeping the business side of baseball moving in the heart of Central New York.
“We run the business operations of this facility,” Smorol said. “We own and manage the Syracuse Mets. We’re the tenant of Onondaga County that leases this stadium to host Syracuse Mets baseball games and other community events. So, in essence, we manage the stadium for the county.”
While the Mets name ties the team to Queens, the Syracuse club operates independently when it comes to day-to-day business. “Right now it’s the offseason,” Smorol said. “We’re doing budgeting, personnel reviews, and looking at where we did well and where we could have done better.”
The Challenges of Minor League Baseball
Unlike Major League Baseball, where front offices handle rosters and player decisions, the Syracuse Mets focus on what Smorol calls “everything baseball-adjacent.” That includes uniforms, travel, and field operations. “We don’t decide what players get selected or who plays what position,” he said. “We’re the host for the New York Mets. We pay for the buses, the dirt, the uniforms, and the hotels and flights.”
That focus on operations extends to what makes minor league baseball unique: promotions and fan engagement. “We need to sell tickets and sponsorships, and minor league baseball is a little bit different than other sports,” Smorol said. “We’re very promotion-heavy. So right now it’s the time of year where we’re coming up with ideas for our promotional calendar and season seat plans.”
One of the biggest challenges for Smorol is marketing a minor league team that shares its name and players with one of the most recognizable franchises in baseball. But he sees it as a positive. “It’s better to be involved with the Mets than not be involved with the Mets,” he said. “The ‘Met Effect’ is real. When we first got the Mets, we had the largest increase in fans of any minor league team that didn’t build a new stadium.”
Still, Syracuse’s fan base isn’t limited to diehard Mets loyalists. “Some people hate the Mets,” Smorol said. “But they like the Syracuse Mets because they live in Syracuse.”
That local pride is something the organization hopes to strengthen in the coming years, especially as the team prepares for a name change after the 2026 season. “We’ve been around so long,” Smorol said. “Next year will be our 150th year of professional baseball in Syracuse. We’re going to build on that history.”
For many fans, the Syracuse Mets are their closest connection to the big leagues. On any given night, a fan might watch a future star in the making. “You can come to a game and watch a player here one day, then see them on SNY the next day,” Smorol said. “That’s the value of having a Triple-A team here.”
The team also prides itself on community involvement, from players visiting children’s hospitals to hosting charity events. “The Amazin’ Mets Foundation has given hundreds of thousands of dollars back to the community,” Smorol said. “From local food banks to the Crouse Health Foundation, the Mets are good for Syracuse.”
Fan Engagement with the Syracuse Mets
For Syracuse University students, that local connection often goes unnoticed. Some recognize the Mets brand but don’t realize the impact of having a professional baseball team just a few miles from campus.
“I think they [the Syracuse Mets] just need to lean in – like, hey, if you want to have a fun night, come to us, come spend some time with us,” said Jason Weiss, a Syracuse University student and lifelong Mets fan. “Baseball is a really fun experience, and especially with the pitch clock now, it’s a faster experience, so people don’t dread it as much as they used to.”
Smorol hopes that will change as the team continues to grow its presence in the city.
“Nobody does what we do,” he said. “We have the highest caliber professional athletes in the area, the widest variety and most affordable food options, fireworks, and giveaways. You can even bring your dog three times a season. It’s just an easy place to get in, get out, and have fun.”