DENVER _ In baseball, hierarchy permeates everything, from seating on the team charter to choice of a uniform number. And even Amed Rosario had long been anointed a boy king in the New York Mets organization, he was not above the rules.
So back in spring training, when Rosario requested his choice of uniform number, he was greeted with a compromise, No. 61. It was something less prominent than his request, but more appropriate for a player in his first big-league camp.
Should he reach the big leagues, Rosario was promised, he'd be given his first choice. Which is why Tuesday night, in one of the most anticipated debuts by a Mets prospect in recent memory, Rosario wore No. 1.
"I really am at a loss for words with this," Rosario said through a translator, before the Mets' 5-4 walk-off loss to the Rockies. "I'm so, so excited."
Rosario's uniform number seems fitting now, a reflection of his standing as the Mets' top prospect, and one of the best in all of baseball. In the 21-year-old, the Mets envision a franchise shortstop, blessed with the speed and talent to be a defensive standout and a force at the plate.
Although his debut was a loss, Rosario went 1-for-4, with his first big-league hit coming when he flashed his speed by legging out an eighth-inning grounder to short. On the play, he advanced to second on a throwing error. At the end of the inning, Yoenis Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera went over to hug the prospect.
But in the ninth, Rosario failed to backhand DJ LeMahieu's grounder to the left of second base. Ruled an infield single, the hit extended the rally, which Nolan Arenado completed with a winning single to score Charlie Blackmon, who walked to start the frame.
Just a few minutes earlier, Blackmon ended the top of the ninth by catching a deep drive to center by Cabrera and crashing into the wall.
Lefty Steven Matz lasted just five innings, departing down 3-2 after allowing a go-ahead three-run shot to Arenado. But the Mets rallied to take the lead on Jay Bruce's solo homer in the eighth.
But behind a pair of bloop hits, the last being Carlos Gonzalez's run-scoring grounder down the third-base line, the Rockies rallied to tie it against lefty reliever Jerry Blevins.
But for the Mets, the focus has long gone past wins and losses, and shifted toward shaping what comes next. That means watching Rosario's progress.
"He's the future of the organization," shortstop Jose Reyes said. "He'll be the shortstop for a lot of years here. For me, it's not a problem at all. I'm happy to help him out with whatever he needs."
Indeed, Rosario will cut into the playing time of Reyes, who once walked this same path. Reyes' debut in 2003 at age 20 carried similar fanfare and proved to be the beginning of a career that includes four all-star selections.
Reyes is no longer that player, though he has served as a mentor for Rosario since last season, when the two crossed paths at Double-A Binghamton. Since then, the two spoke throughout the offseason, in spring training, and this season as Rosario hit .328 at Triple-A Las Vegas to earn his promotion.
"It's been huge for me just being able to have that sort of special human being," Rosario said. "He's really been there a lot for me since last year, when we were able to start developing that. It means a lot to me."
On Tuesday, hours before his debut, Rosario went through a de facto freshman orientation with Reyes. The two chatted on a clubhouse couch with the ease of two longstanding friends.
On occasion, they changed locations, with Reyes giving Rosario a tour. When Rosario wondered about how to leave tickets for family and friends, Reyes snapped to attention, bringing the prospect to the room that houses the computer designated for the task.
Even for little things, Reyes said he feels a duty to help.
"We've stayed close," Reyes said. "I have to show him. That's my job. I'm glad I'm here. Like I told him, anything he needs to know, whatever it is, he can come to me. He's very open with me, so that's good."
Terry Collins batted Rosario seventh, and though he will be the prime option at short, the manager stopped short of saying he will play every day. Still, he said Rosario will have the chance to move himself up.
"I'm anxious to see him play," Collins said. "I just hope he can relax and play the game without thinking he's got to prove too much. He's an exciting player, he's got great skills, we saw it in spring training. Now, he's going to get his opportunity to show it."
Also on Rosario's itinerary: playing at Citi Field later this week. He visited last season to pick up an award. This time, he'll arrive as a player, with a nameplate above his locker sporting the No. 1.
"I would say it's huge for me to take those first steps onto that field, because it just starts a whole new chapter in my life," Rosario said. "It's me starting to reach those dreams I've been wanting."
