New York Mets future stars may pass through Kingsport, Tennessee

 

Kingsport is home to the New York Mets’ Appalachian League affiliate.  Go to www.kmets.com

The New York Mets will be holding a tryout camp on Tuesday July 25 at Hunter Wright Stadium.  Pitchers and catchers should report at 8:30 a.m. for registration and position players should arrive at 10:00 a.m.  Players between the ages of 15-22 are invited.  Those players under the age of 18 must have a permission slip signed by a parent, guardian, or coach.  Please bring your own equipment.

The Mets open the 2006 season at Hunter Wright Stadium on June 21 vs. Greeneville Astros www.greenevilleastros.com

 

May 15, 2006

Minor League Update: MacLane is Pitcher of the Week

An update on yesterday's minor-league report...

Evan MacLane has been named the International League Pitcher of the Week for May 8-14. MacLane went 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two Tides starts. He allowed seven hits and one walk while striking out 16 in 14 innings.

May 14, 2006

Mets Minor League Report 5/14

Evan MacLane could have played college baseball at Hawaii. Instead he opted for slightly less exotic Kingsport, Tenn. – home of the Mets’ short-season affiliate in the Appalachian League.

MacLane, a soft-tossing lefthander pitcher, accepted a $7,500 signing bonus and four semesters of future paid education after the Mets drafted him in the 25th round in 2003. Jedd Soto, MacLane’s junior college coach at Feather River in Quincy, Calif., recommended taking the Mets’ opportunity after watching his right fielder, Josh Greene, decline a similar opportunity the previous year, break a foot and not get another chance.

MacLane, 23, has made the most of the opportunity. After beginning the season at Double-A Binghamton, MacLane advanced to Norfolk. He tossed seven scoreless innings in his Tides home debut last night, striking out 12 and issuing no walks in a 6-0 with against Columbus. In his Triple-A debut Monday, MacLane limited Toledo to three runs (one earned) and three hits in seven innings while striking out four and walking one.

Overall, he’s struck out 41 and walked only three batters this season – remarkable control that dates back to his JUCO days.

“My coach hated when we walked people,” MacLane said.

The southpaw draws comparisons to lefthanders Tom Glavine and Jamie Moyer because of his solid control and modest fastball velocity (83-86 mph). He speculated that a righthander with similar velocity probably would go undrafted, but credited former Mets scout Chuck Hensley, now an agent, for repeatedly attending his games.

About MacLane’s only blemish since turning pro came in the Arizona Fall League last year. Faced with the increased level of competition from his regular-season experience in ’05, spent mostly at high-A St. Lucie, MacLane overthrew and struggled.

“I saw those guys throwing really hard and thought I needed to do something more,” MacLane said.

He soon concluded: “You’re not going to throw 88, 89 mph by anybody.” And after allowing seven runs in two innings in his AFL debut, he steadily improved – allowing only three earned runs in 16 innings over his final three starts for Grand Canyon.

MacLane may not make an appearance in Flushing this season, with Mike Pelfrey and Alay Soler seemingly ahead of him on the depth chart. But he should get an invite to big-league spring training in 2007, where he presumably would have a chance to make an impression, just like Brian Bannister did this year.

“I’d love it,” MacLane said.