Summit's Al Leiter Back With The Mets

SUMMIT, NJ - Berkeley native and Summit resident Al Leiter rejoined the Mets. This time, the former pitcher signed with their front office. The Mets announced Leiter on Monday as a baseball operations advisor.

Leiter pitched for the Mets from 1998 to 2004, going 95-67 with a 3.42 ERA in that span. For his career, the Central Regional alum went 162-132 with a 3.80 ERA and two All-Star appearances.
The Berkeley native won three World Series titles with the Blue Jays (1992 and 1993) and the Marlins (1997). He also won the Robert Clemente Award in 2000.

Leiter spent the past 12 years calling Yankee games on the YES Network. He will continue broadcasting as an MLB Network analyst, while working in the Mets' scouting and player development departments.

He and former Met John Franco, who the Mets also hired Monday, will join David Wright in the front office.

"Al has a unique energy," general manager Brodie Van Wagenen told mlb.com. "For those of you who have met Al in the past, he brings an energy every day.”

With Central Regional, Leiter pitched consecutive no-hitters followed by a 32-strikeout game in 13 innings in 1984 — although he did not win that game. He made the NJ High School Hall of Fame in 2016.

Leiter told New Jersey Monthly Magazine he loves his home state, a place he still calls home.

"You watch Comedy Central and you’ll hear jokes about New Jersey and how it’s not very desirable, but it’s a great place to live. When I moved back here, I couldn’t be in Ocean County or Monmouth County, since it’s too far from the MLB Network," Leiter said. "I chose Summit, and I couldn’t be happier living there and being in New Jersey.”

This contains reporting by Josh Bakan.

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