Sep 10 2006 07:33 PM
No idea how this enormous news passed me by this summer, but the Mets had a minor-league catcher throw away the tools of ignorance and try out a new life as a knuckleball pitcher.
How cool is that?
Meet my new boy, Zac Clements.
Zac was selected by the Mets in the 16th round of the 2002 draft, and spent 5 seasons as a catcher, mainly a reserve, all the way up the ladder to Norfolk (he also got a ST ivite this year, as org catchers generally do). Known as a singles hitter with good catching skills, he probably realized there was little to shoot for in the bigs (233/297/305 career Minor League hitter heading into this year).
Then, this, in July:
| ]B-Mets catcher Clements making switch to mound By Brian Moritz Press & Sun-Bulletin BINGHAMTON -- Zac Clements is moving to the other end of the B-Mets' battery. Clements, one of four catchers on the Binghamton Mets roster, is being converted into a knuckleball pitcher. He began working with the rest of the pitchers before Sunday's game. "I've been messing around with (the knuckleball) a bit, and the pitching coaches saw it and thought it could work," Clements said. Clements said he plans to work with B-Mets pitching coach Mark Brewer over the next few weeks, learning how to throw his knuckler. He'll then likely return to extended spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to get some game experience. In the meantime, he'll be available to pitch on an emergency basis for the B-Mets. "We had him available to do either (pitch or hit on Sunday), whatever one of the two we needed first," B-Mets manager Juan Samuel said after Sunday's 6-2 loss to Harrisburg. Clements, who didn't play Sunday, has played in 12 games since joining the B-Mets from Triple-A Norfolk on May 14. He's hitting just .120 with three hits in 25 at bats. Clements pitched one inning for Norfolk, retiring the side in a May 11 game against Toledo. Samuel said the staff talked to Clements about moving from catcher to pitcher on Saturday. After taking the night to think it over, Clements came to the park Sunday and told the team he'd give it a shot. "I threw (a knuckleball) in college," said Clements, who played at Christian Brothers University, a Division II school in Tennessee. "It's fun to throw." |
Crazy summer for Clements, who was sent all the way back to the GCL Mets, then promoted back up the ladder to Hagerstown, where he struggled with his control (0-4, 6.32, 28 walks, 4 HB, 6 WP in 31.1 innings), but also limited the bad guys to a .242 BAA and only 2 HRs.
The Mets haven't had a true knuckleballer since Dennis Springer back in '00 (2 starts), or maybe Zeile in mop-up relief work. But I think it's cool and forward thinking to be interested in developing one, and my interest is great enough to add him to my growing family.
Clements is a 6-2 righthander who's knuckler reportedly reaches the low 90s. He's 26, originally from Memphis, and he attended Christian Brothers U. there.
Cigars!