The New York Mets designated their opening day cleanup hitter in firstbaseman Mike Jacobs. The move was designed to make room for right handed pitching prospect Tobi Stoner.
Calling up a pitcher in Stoner makes sense, considering the Mets are coming off a game in which they played 20 innings, and used every one of their pitchers except the previous games starter in Oliver Perez. Stoner, who made his debut last September with the mets, was the 16th round selection of the Mets in the 2006 amateur draft.
Jacobs, who still does have an option left for with the Mets, hit .228 last year with the Royals while clubbing out 19 homers and driving in 61 runs. Jacobs, is willing to go to the minors if he is guaranteed playing time, and is not sitting on the bench.
But, with Jacobs being DFA’d, and his potential first base replacement in Daniel Murphy being on the disabled list, this could mean that the Mets fans will get an early look at top prospect Ike Davis who is currently on fire in triple A-Buffalo as he is hitting .357/.514/.679 to begin the season.
Davis, who was drafted by the Mets as the 18th selection of the first round in the 2008 amateur draft, is considered by Baseball America to be the 62nd ranked prospect in all of baseball.
UPDATE: Jacobs has been outrighted to Triple A.