UPDATE: Mets general manager Sandy Alerson went on WFAN this afternoon and told Mike Francesa that it was not known whether Wheeler threw at Rodriguez intentionally or not. Furthermore, Alderson said that the fracas in the clubhouse was not clearly divided along ethnic lines.
Original Story: Reports surfaced on Friday morning of an altercation between Mets prospects Zack Wheeler and Aderlin Rodriguez. Wheeler, of course, is the number one or two prospect in New York’s system depending on who you ask. Rodriguez is decidedly less famous, but still a quite talented young player. He led all Mets minor league players last season with 24 home runs and was listed as No. 15 in Toby Hyde’s Mets prospect rankings at the end of the 2012 season.
The reported incident between the two occurred last Saturday in a minor league instrasquad game. Wheeler gave up a home run to Rodriguez, who allegedly “pimped it” around the bases. In retaliation, Wheeler hit Rodriguez with a pitch later in the game. Not happy about being plunked in a preseason game, Rodrgieuz shouted at Wheeler on his way to first base, and an umpire reportedly had to get in between the two prospects.
It’s also being reported that in the clubhouse after the game, some American players and Latin players went all West Side Story and began “circling and yelling at each other.”
Vice president of player development Paul DePodesta spoke with reporters and said that the players involved in the altercation have been disciplined and that the matter is now closed.
I hope that there aren’t hard feelings between Wheeler and Rodriguez going forward, because the two could very well end up as teammates on the next Mets playoff team. I know that if Rodriguez is moved out of the organization for whatever reason that this incident will be pointed at as the cause, but keep in mind that Rodriguez is a third baseman– the same position as David Wright and Wilmer Flores. There would be other reasons for trading him.
