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Jonathon Niese: 2015 NL Champion Mets Left-Handed Pitcher (2008 - 2016)

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Jonathon Joseph Niese was born on October 27th, 1986; the same day the Mets won Game #7 of the '86 World Series. Niese was born in Lima, Ohio going to high school in Defiance, Ohio where he was drafted by the New York Mets in 2005, in the seventh round. The six foot four, left hander began his career pitching seven games with the Gulf Coast League Mets in 2005. By 2007 he was leading the 11 A ball St. Lucie, Mets with eleven wins going 11-7. The next season he promoted through AA Binghamton (6-7 / 3.04 ERA) & AAA New Orleans where he was an impressive 5-1 with a 3.40 ERA for the Zephyrs. As one of the Mets top pitching talents he got a big-league September call up. Mets Debut:   On September 2nd,   Niese debuted in the heat of the Mets pennant race. He got the start in Milwaukee but served up five runs on seven hits exiting after three innings. The team rallied to go onto a 6-5 win.  First Career Win: On September 13th at Shea Stadium, he had an outstanding...

Derek Bell: 2000 N.L. Champion Mets Regular Season Left Fielder (2000)

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Derek Nathan Bell was born December 11, 1968 in Tampa, Florida. The right-handed hitting six-foot two Bell, was selected in the second round of the 1987 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He was 18 years old right out of high school. In the minors he won a batting title at the A ball level batting .346 at Myrtle Beach. He later won the International League MVP at AAA Syracuse batting .349 with 93 RBIs & a .424 on base %.  He was one of the minor leagues top outfield prospects by 1991 making his debut in Toronto that September. MLB Career: Bell spent two brief seasons in Toronto before getting traded to the San Diego Padres for Darrin Jackson. Bell became a regular outfielder in San Diego hitting 21 HRs with 26 stolen bases & 72 RBIs in his first season there. Drama: In 1994 although he hit .311 with a .354 on base % while stealing 24 bases he was involved in some highly publicized drama, in New York City before a Mets, Padres game at Shea Stadium.  B...

Mark Vientos: Mets 2024 Post Season Hero Slugging Third Baseman (2022 - 2025)

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Mark Anthony Vientos was born December 11th, 1999, in Norwalk, Connecticut. His family moved him to South Florida where he attended high school at Pembrook Pines & Plantation. He grew up a Mets fan due to his father who was born in the Dominican Republic. Minor Leagues: In 2017 he was signed out of high school, by the New York Mets in the second round of the draft as the 59th overall pick. He played at A Ball for two seasons, getting named the 2019 Mets Minor League Player of the Year. After the Covid 19- 2020 season was cancelled, he was promoted to AA Binghamton. In 2021 he hit 22 HRs in 72games then got promoted to AAA Syracuse. In 2022 he played in the Futures Game along with Mets future catcher Francisco Alvarez. At AAA he Syracuse he batted .280 with 24 HRs & 72 RBIs. With Pete Alonso at first base & Eduardo Escobar at third base, Vientos would have a tough time getting into the Mets line up.  He was better known for his hitting, so was more fit for a designated...