Former Met Watch Vol. 2: Pair of Former Farmhands Debut

(Rob Carr/Getty Images North America)

Week one of the 2016 Major League Baseball season is coming to a close, and it sure wasn’t lacking in excitement. From Trevor Story‘s historic debut with the Rockies, to absolute domination from Clayton Kershaw and Robinson Cano, many players stood out. Additionally, many former Mets made their debuts with their new teams, or continued their careers with others. Here we take a look at the best and brightest former Mets from week one.

Week 1 Notable Hitting Performances:

Justin Turner (LAD): 3 G, 4-13, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B

Carlos Beltran (NYY): 3 G, 3-12, HR, 2 RBI

Angel Pagan (SFG): 4 G, 5-15, 5 R, 2 2B, 3B, 2 RBI

Josh Thole (TOR): 1 G, 1-4, HR, RBI

Daniel Murphy (WSH): 3 G, 4-11, 1 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 5 RBI

Week 1 Notable Pitching Performances:

Tyler Clippard (AZ): 1 G, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R

Francisco Rodriguez (DET): 2 G, SV, BS, 1.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 SO

Collin McHugh (HOU): 1 GS, L, 0.1 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 2 BB

Chris Young (KC): 1 GS, L, 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO

Jon Niese (PIT): 1 GS, 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, BB, 7 SO

Former Met Watch Major League News and Notes:

After initially being named in the Al Jazeera report as one of many athletes that took performance-enhancing drugs, C Taylor Teagarden was handed an 80-game suspension. Currently a free agent, Teagarden played in nine games with the Mets in 2014. In 28 at-bats, he hit one home run, a grand slam on June 10 in his first game with the team. In 2015, Teagarden hit .200 in eight games with the Chicago Cubs. Read more at USA Today.
OF Matt den Dekker had a crazy Wednesday afternoon and evening, one that included batting practice in Triple-A and a pinch-hit, game winning double in the major leagues with the Nationals. Read more about den Dekker’s day on Masn Sports. In two seasons with the Mets, he hit .238 over 210 at-bats.
Matt Bowman of the St. Louis Cardinals and John Gant of the Atlanta Braves both made their major league debuts on Wednesday. Bowman, who was taken from the Mets in the Rule 5 Draft this winter, pitched the seventh and eighth innings against the Pirates, and allowed only one hit while striking out two. Gant, traded to Atlanta for Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe last season, pitched a scoreless ninth inning against the Nationals. His debut was overshadowed by his funky delivery, which was detailed on Cut 4.

Former Met Watch Minor League News and Notes

The minor league season began on Thursday, so check back next week for the top performances and notes from the first seven days of action.
LHP Darin Gorski, who spent seasons bouncing around the Mets’ system, has latched on with the Somerset Patriots of the Independent Leagues. Gorski, a 2009 seventh round draft pick, had signed with the Nationals earlier in the offseason, but was released on March 16.
RHP Jake Kuebler, who topped out at Binghamton last year and spent three seasons in the Mets system, has signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association.