Noah Syndergaard’s eye-popping spring training has enhanced the mythology around the Mets’ right-handed pitching prospect known as “Thor.”
But the nickname wasn’t bestowed this spring, and it didn’t come solely because the 6-foot-6 flamethrower looks the part of a Nordic superhero.
The idea was spawned last October, when Syndergaard — a fitness fanatic — dressed up as “Thor” and tweeted a photo of himself in full regalia while doing squats.
The 21-year-old, who dropped the hammer on the Braves for two innings Monday in his first start of the spring, said he likes the name.
“The home planet of Thor is called Asgard, which is like my last name,” he said during an interview for SNY’s Mets Hot Stove. ”It just kind of stuck with me. I guess a Mets fan gave it to me, and I’m not going to say, ‘No.’ It’s not a bad name to have.”