Mets Claim Outfielder Mike Baxter

This is from Adam Rubin over at ESPN New York.

The Mets have claimed outfielder Mike Baxter off waivers from San Diego and optioned him to Class A St. Lucie. Here’s the release:

The New York Mets announced today that the club has claimed outfielder Mike Baxter off waivers from the San Diego Padres and optioned him to St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League to continue his major league rehabilitation.

Baxter, a Whitestone, Queens native, had surgery earlier this year to repair ligaments in his left thumb that he injured during Spring Training. Before being claimed by the Mets, Baxter had appeared in 11 major league rehabilitation games with Lake Elsinore (A) of the California League. Baxter began his rehabilitation on June 8, batting .278 (10-36) with one double and two RBI.

The 26-year-old appeared in nine games with the Padres last year, collecting one hit and one RBI in eight at-bats.

Baxter starred at Archbishop Molloy in Queens before teaming up with Tampa Bay Rays lefthanded pitcher David Price at Vanderbilt University.

He is a career .278 minor league hitter with 156 doubles, 35 triples, 47 home runs and 326 RBI in 687 games.

Okay so this isn’t huge news on any front. I just happened to have graduated from Archbishop Molloy in the 1994 and for me it is cool to see someone from Molloy claimed by the Mets.