Mets sign four more Draft picks

NEW YORK -- With three lower-level Minor League affiliates -- Brooklyn, Kingsport and the Gulf Coast League Mets -- getting set to start their seasons, the front office is giving them the personnel to do so.

The club announced Friday the signings of four more players from last week's First-Year Player Draft, meaning 20 of the Mets' 39 selections have inked their first professional deals.

Those made official Friday were all collegians this spring. Ninth-round outfielder Michael Katz joined a trio of right-handers: James Duff (20th round), Tyler Badamo (24th round) and Matt Blackham (29th round).

Katz manned left field for the College of William and Mary this season after being a first baseman his whole life, but his top attribute is his bat. He hit .363/.445/.646 while hitting 14 homers and 24 doubles.

Duff and Badamo are both Long Island products. Duff is from Garden City, but played his college ball at Stonehill College in Eastern Massachusetts, while Badamo grew up in Mount Sinai and suited up for Dowling College in Oakdale. As a senior this season, Badamo posted a 5.86 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 0.83 ERA en route to collecting Division II All-American honors.

The 5-foot-11, 150-pound Blackham limited opposing batters to a .239 average in 25 games (four starts) at Middle Tennessee State this spring.