THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 10, 1995 TAG: 9507100124
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Righthander Paul Wilson, the top pick in the 1994 draft, and outfielder Jay Payton, one of the Mets' top position prospects, are expected to join the Tides on Thursday, according to sources in the Mets organization.
Wilson, 22, and Payton, 22, will play in the Double-A all-star game today in Shreveport, La., and are slated to become Tides when the team plays in Richmond on Thursday, after the Triple-A all-star break.
Wilson, 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, was 6-3 with a 2.17 ERA in 16 starts for Binghamton. In 120 1/3 innings he gave up 89 hits, struck out 127 and walked 24. Wilson, who struck out 17 in a game this year and 15 in another, could make his Tides debut Sunday at Harbor Park against Richmond.
Payton, a righthanded hitter who was the Mets' third pick in the first round last year, is batting .345 and leads the minor leagues in hits with 123. A 5-10, 185-pounder, Payton has 14 home runs, 54 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He owns the minor leagues' longest hitting streak of the season, 25 games, and also had a streak of 35 games in which he reached base.
Wilson and Payton both played in the ACC; Wilson at Florida State and Payton at Georgia Tech.
ADIOS AZUAJE: Infielder Jesus Azajue was sent back to Class-A St. Lucie after Sunday's game. He made an immediate impression with the Tides, however, fielding flawlessly, and at times spectacularly, at second and third base.
Azuaje, 22, batted .429 (6 for 14) in five games.
METS, TEAM USA TICKETS: Tickets for the Mets-Tides exhibition game Aug. 14 go on sale at Harbor Park on Saturday, July 22 at 10 a.m. All tickets are $8.50. Tickets also go on sale at the same time for the Team USA-Chinese Taipei exhibition to be played Sunday, July 23. Tickets are $6.50.
SERIES FINALE: The Tides and Ottawa wrap up their series tonight at Harbor Park, then take three days off for the Triple-A all-star break. Jason Jacome (2-2, 2.70) is scheduled to pitch for the Tides vs. Kirk Rueter (6-3, 2.49). by CNB