The New York Mets announced they purchased the contract of infielder Phillip Evans from Triple-A Las Vegas.
In the corresponding move to open up a 40-man roster spot, left-handed starter Steven Matz has been moved from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day DL.
Matz is out for the season after having ulnar nerve transposition surgery in late August.
Original Post 10:20 a.m.
According to the twitter account SDPreps, the New York Mets are calling up minor league utility prospect Phillip Evans. This will be his first time on a major league roster.
Evans, 24, hit .328/.387/.527 with 18 BB/27 K in the second half for Las Vegas. He has played left field, shortstop, second and third base this in Triple-A for the 51s.
Overall this year, Evans slashed .279/.341/.418 with 26 doubles, career-high 11 home runs, career high 56 RBI and 42 walks compared to only 79 strikeouts in 466 at-bats.
Evans won the Eastern League batting title in 2016 for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies with his .335 average. That career year got him into 21 games in big league spring training this year.
The former 15th round pick will have to be added to the Mets 40-man roster. The Mets need infielder depth with Wilmer Flores out for the season, Amed Rosario out with an injured finger and Asdrubal Cabrera dealing with a sore back.
Evans was going to be a minor league free agent this offseason.
Evans is a dead pull hitter when it comes to power, but he did improve his walk rate this year from 4.9% in 2016 to 8.2% this year.
He’s stretched at shortstop, looks better at third and second base is his best defensive position. Does have the athletic ability to play some corner outfield in a pinch much like Matt Reynolds.
Strong kid that doesn’t strike out much, 359 times in 2177 minor league at-bats.
Evans will become the 15th player drafted by the Mets in 2011 to make a major league roster.
