Mets Sign Willie Harris

The Mets have announced this morning that they are making the signing of OF Willie Harris official. Only one problem, he stinks!

Here's the team's press release:

The New York Mets today announced that they have signed outfielder Willie Harris, who has hit 30 home runs over the last three seasons, to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.

Harris, 32, hit 10 home runs, six doubles, two triples, with 32 RBIs while batting .183 (41-224) in 132 games for the Washington Nationals in 2010. He played all three outfield positions as well as third base last season.

The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder collected 18 doubles, six triples, seven home runs with 27 RBIs in 137 games with the Nationals in 2009. Harris’ best season came in 2008 when he established career highs in home runs (13), RBIs (43) and games (140) with Washington.

He has a career .239 (516-for-2157) batting average with 85 doubles, 24 triples, 37 home runs, 101 stolen bases and 187 RBIs in 895 games with the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and Nationals.

Harris had a pinch-hit single in the eighth inning and scored the only run in Chicago’s 2005 World Series clinching Game Four 1-0 victory over the Houston Astros.

Harris is also one of three natives of Cairo, Ga., to play in the major leagues, joining his nephew Earnest Riles and Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson.

Here is a Willie Harris Fun Fact:

Inside Edge, a Minnesota-based company, does video tracking of every pitch thrown in the major leagues. They had Harris as seeing 228 curveballs and sliders last season. He swung at 72 of them. Do you know how many hits that netted?

One -- a single against Rockies pitcher Jason Hammel on May 15.

Ya Gotta Believe, right?

Filed Under: hot-stove, Mets, willie harris

Categories: NY Mets