Local hero Pedro Beato cracks the New York Mets opening day roster

Pedro Beato / Nicholas Diunte

Once he steps foot on the mound for the New York Mets, Xaverian high school graduate Pedro Beato will have accomplished what every kid with a bat and a glove toiling the New York City sandlots desires - to play big league baseball for the hometown team.

As profiled earlier this spring by our own Marcelo Bravo, Beato represents the hopes and dreams of the thousands of area school-aged children wanting to follow in his footsteps. Blessed with a tremendous arm and a tantalizing 6’4” build, it is apparent why the Orioles offered him a $1 million signing bonus.

Acquired from the Orioles during the Rule 5 draft this winter, Beato will have to stay with the Mets the entire season or else be offered back to the Orioles for $25,000, half of his draft fee. Beato is no stranger to the Mets organization, as they drafted him out of high school in the 2005 MLB Draft, but opted for a year at St. Petersburg Community College when the Mets could not meet his demands for the $1 million he sought as a bonus.

In 12.2 innings this spring, Beato posted a 3.55 ERA. He figures to be used in the bullpen for middle relief. Regardless of whatever capacity he serves for the Mets, Beato will fulfill a boyhood dream when he climbs on the mound fully clad in his Mets uniform. Legions of New Yorkers will be vicariously watching one of their own embark on his major league career.

The Mets take a gamble with Pedro Beato

Pedro Beato / Nicholas Diunte

As an up and coming young prospect, Pedro Beato has produced the numbers necessary to gain the attention of Major League teams. In the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft, the New York Mets drafted him in the 17th round; however, were not able to sign him. At the time, Beato was enrolled in Xaverian High School and although he showed talent, it was not clear whether he was ready for the major leagues. The Baltimore Orioles were willing to take a chance on him in the 2006 Amateur Draft and that same year he struck out a fifth of the batters he faced. After only a season playing for Baltimore's Class-A minor league affiliate, Beato was ranked the 99th best prospect by Baseball America magazine.

With new found recognition under his belt, Beato was able to further develop his skills through in-game experience in the 2007 season. He pitched twice as many games, all of which he started; and struck out 106 batters. Beato's invitation to the 2007 All Star Futures Game solidified his position as a prospect that major league teams would want to keep an eye on.

Soon enough, Beato's years of consecutive success once again caught the attention of the Mets who were now certain of his capabilities. The Mets were finally able to obtain Beato in the 2010 Rule 5 Draft, thereby marking an active investment in him. Last month, the aspiring pitcher noted, "coming around a second time is very exciting," during an MLB.com introductory segment. MLB's Rule 5 draft prevents minor league teams from withholding players that other franchises would have play in the majors. Now the Mets will have to keep Beato for the entirety of the season or trade him back to the Orioles and pay half of his fee. Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen had high hopes for Beato in a recent interview, "So far [The Mets] have been very excited about the life of his arm." With this added pressure, Beato will have to put out his absolute best to guarantee his place on the Mets roster and continue his endeavor to become a star pitcher.