The New York Mets today announced the club signed catcher Johnny Monell to a minor league contract with an invite to major league Spring Training. The 28-year-old Bronx native who went to Christopher Columbus High School will be coming home. The Mets actually drafted him in the 49th round of the 2006 draft out of Seminole Community College but he elected to return to school and was a 30th round pick of the Giants in 2007.

Monell, split last season between Norfolk (AAA) of the International League and Albuquerque (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League. He began the year with the Tides before Baltimore designated him for assignment. The Dodgers acquired his rights on May 28. The lefthanded- hitting, righthanded-throwing native of the Bronx hit .238 (49-206) with four home runs and 24 RBI in 68 combined games last season.

Originally drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft by San Francisco, Monell made his major league debut with the Giants in 2013, collecting one hit in eight games. He is a career .264 (618-2337) hitter in 709 minor league games.