Today, the New York Mets revealed the 2009 Binghamton Mets roster which will open up the Eastern League season Wednesday in Trenton.
The group features three players who were non-roster invitees to Mets’ Spring Training in St. Lucie, left-handed pitchers Mike Antonini and Adam Bostick as well as 22-year old catcher Josh Thole.
In addition, two former Eastern League All-Stars will retake the field at NYSEG Stadium as outfielder Caleb Stewart and infielder Mark Kiger, both 2007 EL All-Stars, return. Kiger was a non-roster invitee to Seattle Mariners Spring Training in 2008 and played for the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (AA) of the Southern League last season batting .223 in 109 games. Kiger led the Eastern League in on-base percentage (.432) and was third-best in batting average (.312) in 2007 with the B-Mets.
The pitching staff consists of many familiar faces including right-hander Jose Sanchez who returns to Binghamton for a third consecutive season after notching a 13-7 record and a 3.83 ERA in 152.2 innings pitched in 2008. Right-handers Eric Brown and Dylan Owen, who finished 2008 in a B-Mets uniform, figure to join Sanchez and Antonini in the starting rotation. 2007 B-Met infielder Ryan Coultas, now a right-handed pitcher, returns after a sparkling spring on the hill.
After clearing waivers April 3, former Major League right-hander Fernando Nieve was optioned to Binghamton and will begin the season at AA after spending time in the big leagues two of the last three seasons with the Houston Astros.
Five players on the B-Mets roster are considered among the top 30 prospects in the Mets organization according to Baseball America. They include: LHP Mike Antonini (No. 15), SS Ruben Tejada (No. 16), 1B Lucas Duda, C Josh Thole (No. 23) and RHP Dylan Owen (No. 28).
Two of B-Mets are rated as having the “Best Tools” in the Mets system by Baseball America: Ruben Tejada (Best Defensive Infielder) and Shawn Bowman (Best Infield Arm). Tejada, 19, is the youngest player on the B-Mets roster.
The Eastern League limit for an Opening Day roster is 24 players. Currently, Binghamton lists 27 players on the active roster. However, prior to the Wednesday opener, the Mets will pare the roster down to the accepted 24-man limit.
Manager Mako Olivares, who guided Binghamton to a 73-69 record in 2008, returns to the helm as skipper of the B-Mets for a third season. He will be joined by a new cast of coaches for the 2009 campaign, however, as former pitching coach Ricky Bones advanced to the Mets’ new AAA-affiliate Buffalo and Luis Natera, who functioned as the hitting coach for the B-Mets also moved up to Buffalo. Hector Berrios will take over as the team’s pitching instructor. Berrios was pitching coach for Brooklyn (SS-A) last season. Former Eastern League manager Bill Masse, who fans will recognize from his stints as skipper with the Trenton Thunder (2005-06) and New Hampshire Fisher Cats (2007), assumes the role of hitting instructor for 2009. Last season, Maase was the manager of the San Antonio Missions (AA) in the San Diego Padres organization. Rounding out the coaching staff is another former manager, Donovan Mitchell, who managed Savannah (Low-A) to a 61-76 record last year.
Athletic trainer Joe Golia returns for his fourth season with the B-Mets as does strength coach Clayton Wilson, also in his fourth year.
Binghamton opens the season Wednesday at Waterfront Park in Trenton, NJ against the defending Eastern League Champions Trenton Thunder. Fans will get their first look at the B-Mets when they return to NYSEG Stadium to open up their 71-game home schedule April 16th with a 6:35 PM tilt against the Portland Sea Dogs. The terrific 2009 promotional line up debuts with a schedule magnet giveaway and the Pre-Game Tailgate Party on Thirsty Thursday slated for Opening Night in Binghamton!
Individual tickets are on sale for the home opener and all 2009 Binghamton Mets home games online at bmets.com, at the NYSEG Stadium box office and at the B-Mets Team Store in the Oakdale Mall. The stadium ticket office is open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM. Tickets can be purchased by phone as well by calling (607) 723-METS.
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