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Phillies: 5 Players Who Once Played For The Mets

By Kerry Kauffman

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 29: Starting pitcher Pedro Martinez #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the New York Yankees in Game Two of the 2009 MLB World Series against at Yankee Stadium on October 29, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - OCTOBER 29: Starting pitcher Pedro Martinez #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the New York Yankees in Game Two of the 2009 MLB World Series against at Yankee Stadium on October 29, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rico Brogna reaches out and snags a line drive hit by Houston Astro Ken Caminiti in the 4th inning of the game in Philadelphia 07 September, 1999. This was the second line drive Brogna caught in a flying dive. AFP PHOTO / Tom MIHALEK (Photo by TOM MIHALEK / AFP) (Photo credit should read TOM MIHALEK/AFP via Getty Images)
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rico Brogna reaches out and snags a line drive hit by Houston Astro Ken Caminiti in the 4th inning of the game in Philadelphia 07 September, 1999. This was the second line drive Brogna caught in a flying dive. AFP PHOTO / Tom MIHALEK (Photo by TOM MIHALEK / AFP) (Photo credit should read TOM MIHALEK/AFP via Getty Images) /

Rico Brogna (Mets 1994 – 1996, Phillies 1997 – 2000)

After nearly five seasons in the Minor Leagues, Rico Brogna had a cup of coffee with the Tigers in 1992, hitting .192 with a home run in 29 at-bats. He spent the 1993 season in Triple-A, hitting .273 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI in 129 games.

Brogna was traded to the Mets just prior to the start of the 1994 season for Alan Zinter.  He spent 67 games in the Mets’ farm system and hit a stellar .351 with seven home runs in 39 games after being called up.

During his first full season as a starter at the Major League level, Brogna hit .289 with 22 home runs and 76 RBI. He impressed in the field as well, committing only three errors for a .998 fielding percentage.

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Brogna was limited to 55 games in 1996, hitting .255 with ten doubles and seven home runs.  Dealing with a form of spinal arthritis diagnosed in 1991 was a concern for the Mets, which was part of the reason for the trade to the Phillies for Rickey Jordan and Toby Borland on November 27, 1996.

The next three seasons in Philadelphia were the best of Brogna’s career. He continued his excellent glovework, consistently above the league average in fielding percentage. At the plate, Brogna had three straight 20-plus home run seasons and knocked in over 100 runs in both 1998 and 1999.

After playing just 38 games with the Phillies in 2000, Brogna was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox, but hit only .196 in 43 games.  He spent one more season in the majors, hitting .248 with three home runs in 72 games with the Braves.

Brogna returned to the Phillies’ organization in December 2017 as the hitting coach for Double-A Reading.

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