Matt den Dekker: Former Mets Outfielder (2013 - 2014)
The six foot one, left-handed hitting outfielder was a second team All State at Westminster High in Lauderdale.
He then attended the University of Florida where he was known for his defense & his speed.
den Dekker had a good sophomore season but an off junior year. He was still ranked the #92 prospect in the minors, by Baseball America.
In his senior year, Matt hit .358 with 64 runs scored & 49 RBIs leading his team to the College World Series.
He then attended the University of Florida where he was known for his defense & his speed.
den Dekker had a good sophomore season but an off junior year. He was still ranked the #92 prospect in the minors, by Baseball America.
In his senior year, Matt hit .358 with 64 runs scored & 49 RBIs leading his team to the College World Series. In 2010 he was selected in the fifth round of the draft by the New York Mets.
After starting out with the Gulf Coast Mets, he was promoted to the Savannah Sand Gnats where he hit .346. In 2011 he hit .296 at A ball St. Lucie, getting promoted to AA Binghamton. On the year he used his speed to steal 24 bases while hitting 32 doubles with 11 triples.
In 2012 den Dekker started the year at AA Binghamton but after hitting .340 in 58 games he was promoted to AAA Buffalo. There he hit just .220 with 9 HRs 47 RBIs & steals.
In 2013 he suffered a wrist injury to start the season. He did a two-week rehab at St. Lucie then was back up to AAA Las Vegas. There he hit .296 with 6 HRs 8 stolen bases 38 RBIs & 34 runs scored in 53 games played.
In July of 2013, the Mets traded away Marlon Byrd & den Dekker got the big league call up. Mets Career: On August 29th, he made his MLB debut donning uniform #6, getting a start in centerfield & batting sixth. He went 0-5 in the 11-3 Mets win over the Phillies at Citi Field.
On August 31st, he got his first career hit, an RBI base hit off the Nationals' Dan Haren, in a six run Mets 3rd inning. The Mets won the game 12-3 for Zack Wheeler.
On August 31st, he got his first career hit, an RBI base hit off the Nationals' Dan Haren, in a six run Mets 3rd inning. The Mets won the game 12-3 for Zack Wheeler.
On September 1st, den Dekker hit his first career HR, coming off the Nationals Ross Ohlendorf.That September, den Decker saw a lot of action playing 27 games hitting .207 with one HR six RBIs & seven runs scored.
In 2014 he was invited to Spring Training & produced well, batting .353 with six RBIs & a pair of stolen bases in 16 games through March 19th.
Lower case Name Trivia: den Dekker was one of three Mets on the 2014 Spring 40-man roster, to have his last name start with a lower case "d" along with Travis d'Arnaud & Jacob deGrom.After starting out at AAA Las Vegas, he was brought up to the Mets squad on May 26th. He got three pinch hit appearances that week going 0-3.
In June, with the Mets outfielders injured, Matt got some steady action filling in but hit just .156 with two extra base hits & an RBI. He was then sent back to AAA Las Vegas being replaced on the roster by Kirk Nieuwenhuis. There he played for the 51's in a crowded outfield with many prospects for the big-league team.
On August 10th, den Dekker returned & got two hits while making a start in a loss at Philadelphia. The next day he drove in a run with an RBI double in a Met win.
den Dekker finished the year batting .250 in 53 games, with 11 doubles & 7 RBIs. He drew 21 walks posting a .345 on base % & stole seven bases in 11 attempts.
On March 30th, 2015, he was traded to the Washington Nationals for reliever Jerry Blevins.
Overall, he was 3-20 against his old Mets NL Champion teammates. He finished the year batting .253 in 55 games for the Nat's.
Mets Redux: In 2018 he resigned with the Mets. On July 18th, he was back with the Mets, playing centerfield going 0-4 in a loss to the Phillies. He would play in eight games for the Mets going 0-18 with two walks.
Long Island Ducks: In 2019 den Dekker signed on with the Independent League's Long Island Ducks. On June 7th he announced his retirement.
Trivia: In 2014 on an off day while a member of the New York Mets, he & pitcher; Vic Black were hanging out on a bench in Central Park enjoying the day. Then they noticed a runaway horse was running toward them, with no one riding the carriage attached to the horse. The two escaped without injury & the horse was corralled by carriage drivers after its carriage got stuck on an open cab door.
On March 30th, 2015, he was traded to the Washington Nationals for reliever Jerry Blevins.
Post Mets Career: Matt played just four games in D.C. before getting sent down to AAA Syracuse. He was brought up again in mid-June.
On July 22nd, he had a pinch single off the Mets Boby Parnell & came around to score the tying run in a 4-3 win at Citi Field.
Overall, he was 3-20 against his old Mets NL Champion teammates. He finished the year batting .253 in 55 games for the Nat's.In 2016, after 19 games he was batting just .176, before getting sent back down to AAA Syracuse. There he hit just .207 in 110 games.
He was granted free agency, signed with the Marlins but was released. He was then picked up by the Detroit Tigers where he played in four games batting .143.
He was granted free agency, signed with the Marlins but was released. He was then picked up by the Detroit Tigers where he played in four games batting .143.
Mets Redux: In 2018 he resigned with the Mets. On July 18th, he was back with the Mets, playing centerfield going 0-4 in a loss to the Phillies. He would play in eight games for the Mets going 0-18 with two walks.Career Stats: In his six-year career he batted .223 with 82 hits 19 doubles, a triple, 7 HRs & 30 RBIs. He posted a .305 on base % & .642 OPS. den Dekker played in 166 games total with 129 games in the outfield.
Trivia: In 2014 on an off day while a member of the New York Mets, he & pitcher; Vic Black were hanging out on a bench in Central Park enjoying the day. Then they noticed a runaway horse was running toward them, with no one riding the carriage attached to the horse. The two escaped without injury & the horse was corralled by carriage drivers after its carriage got stuck on an open cab door.
Family: Matt is married to the former Christine McNamara.
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