Wilson, star on '86 Mets, rejoins club
Mookie Wilson has taken on a new role with the Mets. (File photo, 2000) Credit: Newsday/Audrey C. Tiernan
The Mets' offseason efforts to resurrect some magic from the 1986 team continued Monday when the club announced that Mookie Wilson will return to the organization as a minor-league outfield and baserunning coordinator.
Wilson, 53, split with the team in 2005 after a one-year stint as manager of Class A Brooklyn. Before that role, he was the manager at Rookie League Kingsport from 2003-04 and the Mets' first-base coach from 1997-2002. He ranks second on the team's all-time stolen-base list with 281.
"It's good to be back," Wilson said in a statement. "This is where I started and I'm anxious to do whatever I can for the young kids in our system."
Wilson's return follows the Mets' controversial decision to hire Wally Backman in November as the Cyclones' manager.
The Mets have stockpiled potential replacements for Jerry Manuel, including Backman, and they added another Monday when Bob Melvin was hired as a professional scout. Melvin managed the Mariners from 2003-04 and Arizona since 2005 before he was fired last May.
Martinez wins MVP. The Mets' top outfield prospect, Fernando Martinez, was named MVP of the Caribbean Series after batting .348 with two homers and four RBIs for the Dominican Republic's Escogido team. Heading into spring training, Martinez, 21, finds himself at least fifth on the outfield depth chart.
