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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

New York Signs Draft Bust Patterson

By ZACH DOLEIDEN

NEW YORK — The Mets made two small additions by signing outfielders Corey Patterson and Mike Wilson to minor league contracts on Wednesday. The duo is likely to begin the season in AAA Las Vegas.

Wilson, 29, batted .269 during four seasons at the Triple-A level. The second-round pick of the Mariners in the 2001 Draft has yet to make his big league debut.

The more interesting of the signings though is the 33-year-old Patterson. The veteran lefty spent last season with the AAA affiliate of the Brewers where he posted a .251 batting average with ten home runs. 


Patterson, who was selected with the third-overall pick by the Cubs in the 1998 Draft, was once regarded as one of baseball’s top prospects.

He had a few decent seasons highlighted by a 2004 campaign in which he hit .263 with 24 homers and 72 RBI, but never really lived up to expectations due to injury problems.

Patterson struggled at the plate in 2005 and was later demoted to AAA. He was then traded to the Orioles in 2006 and has since bounced around. New York will mark the tenth organization he has played for.

If Patterson can remain healthy this season, look for him to get a shot in Citi Field should the need for his promotion arise.

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