Toby Hyde's Mets Minor League Blog

The rumor making the rounds on the internet is that LHP Nathan Vineyard has retired.  The Mets picked Vineyard out of GA HS in the supplemental first round, 42nd overall in 2007.  Vineyard pitched just two games in 2008 for the Savannah Sand Gnats before shutting it down for shoulder surgery.

I believe I’ve found the origin of the rumor with a hattip to reader Darin.  Over at Scout.com, the site administrator wrote in a message board post:

Vineyard did “retire” or quit, whatever you want to call it so early in a career.

Maybe he returns down the road, but for now, he’s out of the system.

…..
I found this out from my sources.

The author then follows that up with this:

I’ll have to leave it at this, but all I can say is Vineyard’s departure from the organization was not because the kid couldn’t pitch.

This is clearly unconfirmed, but now I’m inclined to believe that Vineyard will not be at Spring Training in 2009.  … Still looking for official confirmation.

I had pretty high hopes for Vineyard so if this is true it kind of sucks he had #3 potential, but was most likely going to be a #4