FLUSHING, N.Y., January 5, 2024 – The New York Mets today announced the club has signed Gold Glove outfielder Harrison Bader to a one-year contract.
Bader, 29, recorded a career-high 20 stolen bases in 98 games in 2023 as he split last season between the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds. Last year, he ranked in the 80th percentile or higher in fielding range (95th), arm strength (91st), sprint speed (85th), arm value (82nd) and strikeout rate (81st).
"We're very happy to add Harrison to our team. He has continually distinguished himself as one of the best defenders in baseball and can help us win games in a variety of different ways," Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said. "He's a native New Yorker who knows what baseball means to this city and our fan base."
The Bronxville, New York native was recognized as one of the National League's top three outfielders in 2021 with his first career Gold Glove Award. That season, he also established career-high marks with 16 home runs, 50 RBI and 21 doubles. Since 2018, Bader leads the majors in Statcast's runs prevented (59) and outs above average (66) metrics. According to Fangraphs, he also ranks second in that period among all outfielders in UZR (46.2) behind only Mookie Betts and is fifth in the majors with 50 defensive runs saved.
Bader attended Horace Mann School in the Bronx before attending the University of Florida, where he was Pete Alonso's teammate. He was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft. He has played seven major league seasons with the Cardinals (2017-22), Yankees (2022-23) and Reds (2023).
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