Former Met of the Day: Jorge Toca (1999-2001)

Jorge Luis Toca was born on January 7, 1975 in Cuba. The Cuban defector was signed by the New York Mets in 1998 as an amateur free agent. The first baseman /outfielder got to the Mets as a September call up in the Wild Card winning season of 1999. He got a hit in his first MLB at bat, a single at Dodger Stadium. He went 0-3 the rest of the way, being used mostly as a pinch hitter.

The next season as the Mets were winning the 2000 NL Pennant, Toca was batting .272 at Norfolk getting another September call up. He got into eight games and batted .429 which was good for three hits in seven at bats.

His moment in the sun came on Saturday September 30th against the Montreal Expos at Shea Stadium. Toca hit a line drive bases loaded double to left center field off Javier Vazquez clearing the bases to help lift New York to a 4-2 victory. The next day he got another pinch hit single closing out his season. He made no post season appearances but did return in 2001 for 13 games, only batting .176 and never returning to the big leagues. Toca held the bat very loosley & on more than one occasion had it fly out of his hands & into the stands.

In 2003 his contract was purchased by the Pirates but he was released. After minor league stints with four more teams he was found guilty of violating the minor league drug policy & was suspended. He was last seen playing in the Mexican League in 2008.