Mets Sign Minor League Infielder Mitchell Tolman

The New York Mets organization added on more talent Friday afternoon as they picked up utility man Mitchell Tolman on a minor league deal, per Michael Mayer of MMO.

Tolman is coming into the Mets’ system with five years of minor league experience, all with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He is also an alum of the University of Oregon.

Last year, with the Pirates’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, the left-handed hitter combined for a .256 batting average, 36 RBIs and six home runs through 128 games. Tolman also plays well on the defensive side of the ball with a .969 fielding percentage in 2019 with 514 defensive chances playing both second and third base.

According to PiratesProspects.com, Tolman was a regular at second base for Pittsburgh’s Double-A affiliate last season, but his hitting fell off somewhat from the year before.

Tolman did find himself in trouble in 2018 after he violated the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, which resulted in him being suspended for 50 games that season.

However, Tolman said in 2019 that he had learned from his error.

“You make mistakes and I’ve learned from my mistakes. I’m not going to keep dwelling on things that I did because it is what it is,” Tolman told Around the Curve. “I was down on myself for a while, but I feel good now and am in a good place mentally. My family is awesome so I’m excited that I’m on a good path and can keep going and do the things I want to do.”

The Mets’ signing of Tolman came over four months after the 26-year-old was released from the Pirates’ minor league system on June 9.

Written by camadams