Long-Time Mets Farm Slugger Joins AL Contender After Cut

Among potential solutions, the team could look to demote outfielder Carson Benge, who has struggled in his big-league debut this season. In the meantime, the team received an update from another former prospect outfielder who joined an American League contender last week.

“Luke Ritter, who hit 97 homers in the Mets’ farm system from 2019-25, is signing a minor league deal with the Tigers and will join AAA Toledo,” the Post’s Joel Sherman reported on X, formerly Twitter.

Some Mets fans will remember Ritter as a promising slugger during that six-year run in the team’s farm system, and he posted a .233/.342/.421 slash line in more than 600 games before the Mets released him last year.

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Ritter was then signed by the Los Angeles Angels’ organization before being cut once again last month. Now he has joined the Tigers as they seek to shore up their utility depth following an injury.

“With Zach McKinstry being placed on the 10-day injured list (hip and abdomen inflammation) and Hao-Yu Lee being called up from Triple-A Toledo, the Tigers moved to shore up the organization’s utility depth,” Chris McCosky reported for The Detroit News. “According to MLB transactions, they signed 29-year Luke Ritter, who had spent the last three seasons at Triple-A Syracuse in the Mets’ system.”

Ritter could find himself called up to the Tigers’ big-league roster through a number of paths, as he plays outfield, as well as first, second and third base. But it seems like he’ll remain in the minors for the foreseeable future following the move.

He had a strikeout and no hits in his first three at-bats with Triple-A Toledo.

“The 29-year-old utility player remains in search of his MLB debut as he embarks on his seventh season in the minor leagues,” Evan Petzold wrote for the Detroit Free Press. “Ritter hits home runs and draws walks at above-average rates, but he strikes out too often.”

This article was originally published on Forbes.com