Mets call up LF Lucas Duda, SP Jenrry Mejia

Updated Post: 3:10 pm

According to multiple sources via twitter including Kevin Burkhardt and Steve Popper, it is now official that Jenrry Mejia will start for the Mets on Saturday in Chicago against the Cubs.

Original Post: 11:15 am

Last night word surfaced that the Mets have begun their September expansion of the roster by promoting LF Lucas Duda and SP Jenrry Mejia.

The 20 year old Mejia was 2-0 in 6 starts at AA Binghamton, and posted a 1.32 ERA. In one of those starts Mejia pitched a complete game-shutout. Mejia was then promoted to AAA Buffalo recently and after 1 start is 0-0 with a 1.12 ERA. He pitched 8 innings allowing 5 hits, struck out 9 and walked 1 batter.

Mejia started the season with the Mets major league roster where he went 0-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 30 relief appearances. During that span he struck out 17 and walked 15 batters.

All indications point to Mejia replacing Pat Misch in the rotation on Saturday at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. Jerry Manuel told reporters last night there is a good possibility he starts, pending a bullpen session later this week.

The Mets also called up LF Lucas Duda who has been incredibly productive in the Minor Leagues this year. Duda started out at AA Binghamton and hit .286 while homering 6 times and driving in 34 RBIs. Duda was then promoted to AAA Buffalo Bisons and played 70 games where he batted .314 and hit 17 Home Runs while driving in 53 RBIs. His combined stats among both Leagues are: .304 AVG, 23 Home Runs, 87 RBIs, 40 2B, 84 SO & 60 BBs.

Duda is 24 years old and turns 25 in February of 2011. Here's a recent scouting report from Fangraphs:

He was a guy at USC that people always assumed would hit for more than he did — he's massive, you know — but it wasn't there. I don't know if the Mets re-worked his swing or approach or whatever, but it's clearly been a change in philosophy. While I don't have a ton of trust in the MinorLeagueSplits numbers, I trust enough the groundball percentages for hitters, and he's seen a drop in each season. But even still, I'm sure his HR/FB numbers are unsustainable, and there are a lot of examples in history of minor league hitters going on power binges, and confusing us about their true talent level. I like Duda, because he's going to walk a lot, and he's consistently made hard contact in the minors, but I'm just not ready to call him a 30 HR guy.

Nevertheless, another scouts opinion back on August 25th believes a promotion is understandable:

I'm not sure he's going to be a regular on a good club, but I concur that the Mets should give him an audition and find out.