Mets release outfielder Cesar Puello

The Mets have released outfielder Cesar Puello. The outfielder did not make the team's Opening Day roster this year but was placed on the major league disabled list because of a back issue and had spent the entire season there. He played in just one game this season with the Gulf Coast League Mets on July 27.

Now 24 years old, Puello made his professional debut with the GCL Mets in 2008, his age-17 season. He spent each year of his minor league career at one level: Kingsport, Savannah, St. Lucie, St. Lucie again, Binghamon, and Las Vegas. His best year came in 2013 in Binghamton, as he hit .326/.403/.547 with 16 home runs in his age-22 season.

But that season was cut short when he was suspended for 50 games as one of the players involved in the Biogensis scandal. When he returned last year, Puello hit just .252/.355/.393 with 7 home runs for Las Vegas and played sporadically over the course of the season there.

Since Puello had been on the 60-day disabled list, the Mets' release of him does not create a vacancy on the team's 40-man roster.