BINGHAMTON — The Mets had three of the first 33 picks in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. But as their first selection, Ike Davis, has become as the franchise’s long-term solution at first base, the other two picks — second baseman Reese Havens and pitcher Brad Holt — have hit roadblocks on their way to Queens.
When the Mets tapped Havens with the 22nd pick, they thought they were getting one of the most durable players in the draft. Havens did not miss a game in three years as the shortstop at South Carolina. But since Havens arrived with the Brooklyn Cyclones, he has endured one nagging injury after another.
Because of a pulled groin and arm troubles, he was limited to 23 games with the Cyclones in 2008. He also spent time on the disabled list last year with High-A St. Lucie with a quad strain, as well as a bone bruise in his right hand after being hit by a pitch.
The injuries have continued this year, hitting the DL multiple times — including this week, because of oblique strains.
“We had him healthy for a while here, and I was really looking forward to working with him and fine-tuning what his athleticism has obtained for him,” Binghamton manager and former Mets second baseman Tim Teufel said.
But when he has been on the field, Havens has been productive. Last season he was a Florida State League All-Star with St. Lucie, hitting .247 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs. This season, between St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton, he is hitting .312 with nine homers and 19 RBIs in 32 games.
“It’s just one of those things,” Teufel said of Havens’ injury woes. “Hopefully we can get him back, keep him healthy and get him out there.”
Holt’s path has been slightly different, as he was dominant through his first year of pro ball. He was 5-3 with a 1.87 ERA in 14 starts with Brooklyn in 2008, and then went 4-1 with a 3.12 ERA with St. Lucie last year before getting a midseason promotion to Binghamton.
Since his first outing with Binghamton last summer, when Holt injured his ankle and missed three weeks, he has never been the same. He went 3-6 with a 6.21 ERA last year, and went 1-5 with a 10.20 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) this year before he was demoted to St. Lucie this week.
“Brad just wasn’t getting it done here,” Binghamton pitching coach Mark Brewer said. “He’s got all the physical ability, but he wasn’t getting it done here, and we needed to get him in a situation where he can get back on track.”
In his first start with St. Lucie on Tuesday, Holt allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits in four innings, striking out two and walking one.
“He didn’t fare so well [Tuesday], but he’s a gamer and he’ll rise to the occasion,” Brewer said. “He’s gonna have to get it done down there before he can come back here.”