Athletes We Love: MLBer Matt Festa brings Christmas cheer to Great Kills Little Leaguers

Our Athletes We Love feature, which is typically only available to local youth athletes, is a little different this week.

In this article, Matt Festa, a larger Staten Island athlete, met the players of the league’s Challenger Division and signed autographs for the kids, bringing Christmas cheer to Great Kills Little Leaguers Sunday.

Festa, 31, a resident of St. Joseph by the Sea, said, “I get to come home and spend time with my family after a long season, which is why the holidays are always special.” It’s made even sweeter by the chance to give back to GKLL, which served as essentially my second home while I was growing up.

GKLL goes above and beyond for their Challenger section; the organization’s expansion and progress over the years are a true testament to the individuals who give their time to help these children. I sincerely appreciate being a part of their holiday celebration and eagerly anticipate many more.

Matt Festa assists in decorating the Great Kills Little League clubhouse’s Christmas tree. (Image provided by Joe Mascia.)Mascia, Joe

Before signing with the Mets organization last June and then the Texas Rangers, where he recorded an impressive 6-0 record out of the bullpen after going 0-1 with the Mets in one outing, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound player spent nine professional seasons on the West Coast, including parts of four MLB campaigns with the Seattle Mariners.

Festa, a native of East Stroudsburg, was chosen by the Mariners in the seventh round of the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft.

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