Rick Aguilera - His New York Mets Career

Rick Aguilera was drafted by the New York Mets in the third round of the 1983 amateur draft and made his Mets and Major League Debut on June 12, 1985.

If it wasn't for a little roller hit behind the bag by Mookie Wilson, Aguilera would have been known as the losing pitcher in game six of the 1986 World Series. Fortunately for Aguilera the Mets pulled the game out and won the series, now he is remembered as a very good pitcher who won 37 games in five seasons for the Mets. mostly as a number five starter.

In his Mets debut Rick Aguilera pitched two innings of scoreless relief to earn his first big league victory against the Philadelphia Phillies. Aguilera would go on to win 10 games for the Mets in 1985. He followed that up with another 10 victories in the Mets World Championship season in 1986.

Rick Aguilera's best season with the Mets was 1987 when he went 11 and 3 despite injuries limiting him to just 18 games. The Mets moved Aguilera to the bullpen in 1988 where he went 0-4 in just 11 games in another injury plagued season. In 1989 Aguilera pitched exclusively out of the bullpen posting a 6 and 6 record with seven saves before the Mets traded him along with David West, Kevin Tapani, Tim Drummond and Jack Savage to the Minnesota Twins for Frank Viola, the American Leagues reigning Cy Young Award winner.

Rick Aguilera went on to have an excellent career as a closer with the Twins posting 254 saves in 11 seasons, he finished out his career with the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox.

Rick Aguilera pitched in 114 regular season games for the Mets winning 37 and losing 27 while saving 7 more. His ERA with the Mets was 3.58.

Rick Aguilera was also a fine hitter with the Mets hitting three home runs during his Mets tenure.

While with the Mets Rick Aguilera wore number 38 during the 1985 and 86 seasons. He switched to number 15 in i1987 and 1988 before switching back to 38 in 1989.

For Mets related articles visit http://allthingsmets.blogspot.com