Jake Eigsti is back in Brooklyn…again.
The right-hand hitting infielder was assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones from Class A St. Lucie last week, making it his fourth straight year on the club. He played with the ‘Clones from 2006-08 before being called up Savannah (A) and eventually St. Lucie. Eigsti was drafted by the Mets in the 29th round in 2006 out of Indiana State University.
“They told me I was back here to help the team win,” he said. “We are in first place, so it’s always good to be in first place. It’s great to be back. I enjoy playing in front of this good crowd and a good atmosphere.”
He is only expected to be with the Cyclones for a short time to help give their infielders a rest and add a veteran hitter with some speed to the top of the order. Brooklyn currently leads the Staten Island Yankees by four games in the McNamara Division.
After hitting .230 in 33 games with St. Lucie, Eigsti is batting .217 with four runs scored in six games with Brooklyn, playing mostly second base for the struggling Louis Nieves. Eigsti, who came up as a third baseman, has played every position in the infielder during his minor league career..
“It is tough, but not everybody can do it,” he said of bouncing around teams. “I’m versatile. I can play different positions. That’s a big reason why they send me places.”
Eigsti started this season with a five-game stint in St. Lucie and then made stops in Savannah and also Double A Binghamton, the highest level he has reached in the organization. He said that some of his Brooklyn teammates have asked him what it is like playing at the higher levels, especially the difference in pitching. They know Eigsti is going to help their team, especially with his excellent glove.
“He’s been around a little bit, good kid, good guy, knows how to play the game,” shortstop Robbie Shields said. “He tries to help out anyway he can.”
The 6-foot, Peoria, Ill. native was a New York-Penn League All-Star in 2007, when he hit .275 with 28 runs, nine doubles, two home runs and 38 RBIs. Eigsti played in 115 career games for Brooklyn and holds the franchise record for games played by a third baseman at 75.
“The same way that Angel Berroa did it when he was here for two days, the same way that Andy Green did it for five or six days here, I think Jake plays that role too, a veteran guy that has played at a high level,” Cyclones manager Pedro Lopez said. “It’s nice to have somebody like that in the lineup for us.”
