A busy offseason for the Mets continued into December as the team made several moves to bolster their coaching staff and rotational depth.
Earlier this month, the Mets announced that assistant coaches Alvin Cruz, Omar González, and Milt Palacio are joining new Head Coach Xavier Silas on the sidelines.
- Cruz—a 22-year veteran of the BSN—retired from the league in May. The 40-year-old brings more youth to a Mets coaching staff led by the 34-year-old Silas. Cruz played for Guaynabo in the 2012 – 2013 season.
- González has coached basketball professionally for more than 30 years, including the Puerto Rico Men’s and Women’s National Basketball Teams. González won four international silver medals and three international gold medals with the Women’s National Team and a silver medal with the Men’s National Team. He is the first Puerto Rican basketball coach to lead both teams to medals.
- Palacio had a 14-year professional playing career that spanned seven NBA seasons, as well as stints in Europe and Puerto Rico, where he played for Quebradillas in 2012. His first coaching gig was with the University of Idaho for the 2013-14 season. Prior to joining the Mets, he also coached in the NBA G-League and was an assistant for the Portland Trail Blazers. He is Head Coach of the Belize National Team.
With its coaching staff in place for the 2023 season, the Mets will look to integrate several new players into the team’s system. In addition to guards Gary Browne and Jaysean Paige, the Mets welcomed newcomers Onzie Branch, Enrique Ramos, and Khary Mauras.
- Branch has played eight seasons in the BSN, most recently with the San Germán Athletics. The six-foot-six forward began his pro career in 2014-2015 as a member of the Capitanes de Arecibo. His lifetime regular season averages are 4.9 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game over 15:24 of playing time. The versatile big man has career highs of 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists.
- Ramos, a six-foot-ten center/forward, started his pro career in 2016 playing for Guayama and played last season in Mayagüez, averaging 2.32 points and 2.1 rebounds in 7:23 minutes. His career numbers over seven BSN seasons are 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds. The 33-year-old posted his best statistical season in 2019.
- Khary “Ky” Mauras has spent two seasons in the BSN. Over 80 games with the Grises de Humacao (2021) and the Brujos de Guayama (2022), the six-foot point guard averaged 6.9 points and 3.4 assists per game. Before turning pro, he spent one season at Old Dominion and three seasons at Bloomsburg University, finishing 25th all-time on Bloomsburg Men’s scoring list.
These signings give the Mets a current roster of Branch, Ramos, Mauras, Paige, Browne, Reynaldo Balkman, Jonanthan Han, EJ Crawford, William Martinez, and William Orozco. Guaynabo expects to announce more signings and team news as it looks ahead to training camp in February. Follow the Mets on Twitter and Instagram for the latest.