The Diamondbacks graduated some prospects this morning. Literally. - MLB

This is neat. Most teams have “academies” in Latin America. The Diamondbacks have one that not only teaches baseball players the game, but also teaches them academically. And hands out diplomas. From Nick Piecoro at the Arizona Republic:

Five young men will don caps and gowns atop Diamondbacks uniforms on Friday morning in the Dominican Republic, where club officials will present them with high school diplomas.

They represent the first graduating class in a program that’s believed to be the first of its kind. For years, every major-league club has operated a Dominican academy where players as young as 16 begin their professional careers. The Diamondbacks’ academy in Boca Chica is the first to also offer players a classroom education.

It’s good to see that the Diamondbacks are treating the young men in their academy as something more than mere baseball playing resources that are either fully-exploited or discarded by the time they turn 17.

PITTSBURGH — The New York Mets will have to dig out of an early-season hole without star first baseman Pete Alonso.

The leading home run hitter in the majors will miss three-to-four weeks with a bone bruise and a sprain in his left wrist.

The Mets placed Alonso on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to June 8. Alonso was hit in the wrist by a 96 mph fastball from Charlie Morton in the first inning of a 7-5 loss to Atlanta on Wednesday.

Alonso traveled to New York for testing on Thursday. X-rays revealed no broken bones, but the Mets will be missing one of the premier power hitters in the game as they try to work their way back into contention in the NL East.

“We got better news than it could have been,” New York manager Buck Showalter said. “So we take that as a positive. It could have been worse.”

New York had lost six straight heading into a three-game series at Pittsburgh that began Friday. Mark Canha started at first for the Mets in the opener. Mark Vientos could also be an option, though Showalter said the coaching staff may have to use its “imagination” in thinking of ways to get by without Alonso.

“I’m not going to say someone has to step up and all that stuff,” Showalter said. “You’ve just got to be who you are.”

Even with Alonso in the lineup, the Mets have struggled to score consistently. New York is 16th in the majors in runs scored.

The team also said Friday that reliever Edwin Uceta had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Uceta initially went on the IL in April with what the team called a sprained left ankle. He is expected to be out for at least an additional eight weeks.

New York recalled infielder Luis Guillorme and left-handed reliever Zach Muckenhirn from Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets sent catcher Tomás Nido to Triple-A and designated reliever Stephen Nogosek for assignment.

Nogosek is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 13 games this season.