Lastings Milledge Called Up By New York Mets; Xavier Nady On DL

Mets recall top prospect Milledge, put Nady on DL
Associated Press, ESPN


NEW YORK -- Top prospect Lastings Milledge was called up by the New York Mets on Tuesday after starting right fielder Xavier Nady was placed on the disabled list following an appendectomy earlier in the day.

The arrival of the 21-year-old Milledge from Triple-A Norfolk has been greatly anticipated by fans in New York since the highly regarded outfielder was chosen with the No. 12 pick in the first round of the 2003 draft.

Milledge, drafted out of high school in Bradenton, Fla., batted .291 (53-182) with four home runs, 19 RBIs and four stolen bases in 50 games this season with Norfolk. He also had 16 doubles and 32 runs scored.

During spring training, Milledge had a .327 average in 23 games.

Any time trade rumors have cropped up with the Mets in the past year, Milledge has been widely sought after by other teams.

But New York has been reluctant to trade another top prospect after sending away young left-hander Scott Kazmir, who was dealt two years ago to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Victor Zambrano.

Kazmir, a 22-year-old left-hander, is second in the AL with seven wins this season and fifth in the league with a 2.86 ERA. Zambrano is out for the year following surgery earlier this month to replace a torn ligament in his pitching elbow.

At last year's trade deadline when rumors swirled that the Mets were close to acquiring Boston outfielder Manny Ramirez, Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said he spoke with New York and came up with a three-way deal involving Tampa Bay, Boston and New York.

LaMar said a proposal was "about as close as it got," adding that the Mets made Milledge "untouchable throughout this trade deadline."

Nady, acquired from San Diego in the offseason in the deal that sent Mike Cameron to the Padres, had surgery at early Tuesday at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

He went 0-for-2 with a run scored Monday night in New York's 8-7 victory over Arizona that ended shortly before midnight. Nady was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning and left the game.

While being examined, he complained of abdominal pain, and the appendicitis diagnosis followed. Nady was then taken to the hospital.

The Mets said Nady, who missed two games last week because of a sore lower back, should be able to resume baseball activities within 10 days. He is hitting .267 with nine homers and 22 RBI in his first season with New York.