Mets add six to 40-man roster

FLUSHING, N.Y. – The New York Mets today announced the club has added righthanded pitchers Zack Wheeler, Hansel Robles, Gonzalez Germen and Greg Burke, lefthanded pitcher Darin Gorski and infielder Wilfredo Tovar to the 40-man roster, which now is at 39.

Wheeler, 22, went 12-8 with 148 strikeouts in 149.0 innings between Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League and Buffalo (AAA) of the International League last season.  The 6-4, 185-pounder was named to the mid-season Eastern League All-Star team and pitched in the 2012 Futures Game in Kansas City.  He was 10-6 with a 3.26 ERA (42 earned runs/116.0 innings) with 117 strikeouts in 19 starts with the BMets.  Wheeler posted a 2-2 mark with a 3.27 ERA (12 earned runs/33.0 innings) with 31 strikeouts in six starts for the Bisons.

Robles, 22, went 6-1 with a 1.11 ERA (nine earned runs/72.2 innings) in 12 starts for Brooklyn (A) of the New York-Penn League in 2012.  He led the NYPL in ERA and finished the season without allowing an earned run in his final 45.0 innings while racking up 66 strikeouts. Robles, who was named to the NYPL All-Star team, was also a finalist for the MiLB.com Pitcher of the Year Award.  The 5-11, 185-pounder was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2008.

Germen, 25, was 12-12 with a 4.34 ERA (74 earned runs/153.1 innings) in 26 games, 24 starts between St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League, Binghamton (AA) and Buffalo (AAA) in 2012.  The 6-1, 170-pounder was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2007.

Burke, 30, appeared in 48 games with San Diego in 2009 and pitched in Baltimore’s minor league system last season, compiling a 3-1 record, 17 saves and a 1.53 ERA (11 earned runs/64.2 innings pitched) in 44 games out of the bullpen between Bowie (AA) of the Eastern League and Norfolk (AAA) of the International League. The 6-4, 214-pound native of Camden, NJ, was signed by the Mets on November 7.

Gorski, 25, went 9-8 with a 4.00 ERA (62 earned runs/139.2 innings) in 25 games, 24 starts with Binghamton (AA) last year.  The 6-4, 210-pounder was the Organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2011 after going 11-3 with a 2.08 ERA (32 earned runs/138.2 innings) with St. Lucie (A).  He was the Mets seventh round pick in 2009.

Tovar, 21, combined to hit .270 (111-411) with 28 doubles, three triples, one home run, 50 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 122 games between St. Lucie (A) and Binghamton (AA) last year.  The 5-10, 160-pounder was named to the mid-season Florida State League All-Star team.  He was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2007.