Mets place Buck on paternity list, call up d'Arnaud

San Diego, CA – The New York Mets have recalled catcher Travis d'Arnaud from Triple-A Las Vegas and the highly touted prospect will make his major league debut in Saturday's game against the San Diego Padres.

D'Arnaud, the highest-rated catcher and 22nd overall on MLB.com's 2013 prospect watch, is in the starting lineup and will be with the Mets for at least three games with regular backstop John Buck currently away from the team to attend the birth of his child. New York placed Buck on the paternity leave list Saturday.

The 24-year-old d'Arnaud was acquired by the Mets from Toronto in last December's blockbuster trade that sent 2012 NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays. He has played just 32 games in the minors this season, however, missing more than three months after fracturing a bone in his left foot in April.

D'Arnaud is batting .286 with three home runs and 20 RBI at three different stops this season. Since being called back up to Las Vegas on Aug. 9, the Southern California native has gone 8-for-20 with one homer, four RBI and nine walks in seven games.