Photo by Rick Nelson/MiLB.com
The New York Mets have traded utility player L.J. Mazzilli to the New York Yankees in exchange for OF Kendall Coleman.
Mazzilli, the son of beloved Met Lee Mazzilli, who currently was a Spring Training instructor with the Yankees, was the Mets 2013 4th round draft pick out of UConn. Early on in his professional career, he seemed like he may have an opportunity to play for the parent club. In 2014, he would be assigned to the Arizona Fall League, a showcase and development tool for an organization’s top prospects, and he would impress hitting .306/.433/.469 with three doubles, a triple, home run, and seven RBI.
After that breakout season, Mazzilli tested positive a second time for a “drug of abuse,” and he was suspended 50 games. Per the Minor League Drug Prevention Program, “drug of abuse” includes but is not limited to marijuana, hashish, cocaine, LSD, heroine and ecstasy. It was not announced which drug he specifically tested positive.
After the suspension, Mazzilli was unable to build off of his 2014 season. Over the last two years, he bounced between Double and Triple-A. During that time, he transitioned to the role of a utility player. So far this season, the 27 year old Mazzilli is hitting .333/.429/.500 in four games for Las Vegas.
In exchange for Mazzilli, the Mets obtained the 22 year old Coleman, who was the Yankees 2013 11th round draft pick out of Rockwell High School (Rockwell, Texas). Last year, Coleman was assigned to the Staten Island Yankees of the New York Penn League. In 63 games, he hit .212/.294/.322 with 12 doubles, a triple, three homers, and 25 RBI.
Coleman was limited in his first two professional seasons due to injuries, which could partially explain why he remains a raw player who has yet to put it all together. To do that, he is going to have to improve upon his 27.2% strikeout rate. At the moment, we do not know where Coleman will look to begin making better contact and getting the most out of his tools as the Mets have not announced which affiliate he will report.
