Rick Ankiel (PHOTO: Pat Sullivan/AP Photo)
The Mets signed veteran outfielder Rick Ankiel on Monday and immediately wrote him into their lineup, batting seventh and playing center field. The team has struggled to find consistent production from its outfield to date in 2013.
Mets center fielders entered Monday’s game with a collective .182 batting average with a .217 on-base percentage and a .498 OPS. Still, it’s unclear that Ankiel can do much to help. The 33-year-old converted pitcher hit .194 and struck out 35 times in 62 at-bats in a stint with the Astros earlier this season.
Ankiel offers the Mets power they did not have in center. Of Ankiel’s 12 hits in 2013, eight have been for extra bases — including five home runs. Mets center fielders had only seven extra base hits among them in 132 at-bats before Monday’s game.
Also, even if Ankiel can’t do much at this point to help the Mets in the standings, he’ll certainly help them in the highlight reel. The one-time Cardinals lefty can still turn heads with incredible throws from the outfield, as seen here:
