The New York Mets look to rebound from a disastrous 2010 season that saw the NL East team finish four games under .500. The Mets newly hired manager, Terry Collins, has ties to the Northwoods League. Collins managed the Duluth Huskies and plans to add discipline to a Mets team that has severely lacked leadership the past few years. Collins intense management style will help former All-Stars Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, and David Wright who struggled in 2010.
The Mets will also have a Northwoods flavor in their pitching staff and outfield. Dillon Gee is a right handed pitcher on the 40-man roster while Lucas Duda is currently listed as the backup left fielder behind Jason Bay.
Dillon Gee was drafted by the New York Mets in 2007 in the 21st round after he played in Brainerd in 2005. Gee made his Major League debut in September of 2010 and thrilled the Mets crowd with a no-hitter through six innings. The University of Texas-Arlington pitcher has a career 27-19 Minor League record in 426 innings pitched.
Lucas Duda spent time in the NWL with the Alexandria Beetles in 2006 where he was named an All-Star and Silver Glove recipient at 1st base. The Riverside, CA native spent his collegiate playing days at USC before being drafted by the Mets in the 7th round of the 2007 MLB Draft. Duda made his Major League debut this past season on September 1st. Duda showed nice power numbers in limited action in 2010 with the Mets as he hit 6 extra-base hits in 19 games.
Follow former NWL Alumni Terry Collins, Dillon Gee, and Lucas Duda as they try to improve on their 79-83 2010 record.
