Former LM College Pitcher Below Now With Mets Organization

Story by Jacob Holmes

Duane Below, a former left-handed baseball pitcher from Lake Michigan College, has recently received a fresh start in professional baseball from the New York Mets.

Below, 29, drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 19^th round of the 2006 draft, playing in the minor leagues before making his debut with the Tigers in 2011. Between 2011 and 2012, Below pitched 41 games. Only three of those games were as a starter.

This year marked the first time that Below spent spring training away from the Tigers since being drafted with them.

In 2013, Below pitched two games out of the bullpen for the Miami Marlins, and pitched for the top farm team of the Tigers, Triple-A Toledo, in 2014.

Below became a free agent on Nov. 4, 2014, and signed a minor league contract with the Mets on Jan. 29 2015. Below’s signing was advantageous for the Mets, who were low on left-handed relief pitchers after losing two to injuries.

Below made one appearance with the Mets before being assigned to New York’s top farm team, the Las Vegas 51s of the Pacific Coast League, where he made his debut in April.

Below got his first win of the season on Apr. 27 against Albuquerque, where he allowed no runs in 1 1/3 innings. Out of the bullpen, Below was 1-1 with an ERA of 2.08 in his first three appearances with Las Vegas.