The Mets have signed outfielder Andrew Brown to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, the club announced Wednesday.

Brown, 28, has played 57 major league games over the last two seasons with a .224/.284/.396 (72 OPS+) batting line. He spent the bulk of 2012 at Triple-A Colorado Springs in the Rockies organization, where he hit .308/.364/.597 with 24 home runs, albeit at one of the most hitter-friendly offensive environments in all of baseball.

The Mets outfield is currently flush with left-handed batters -- Lucas Duda, Kirk Neuwenhuis and Mike Baxter are all southpaws -- and so Brown's ability to hit left-handed pitchers will be his pathway to the major league roster. Mets executive Paul DePodesta cited the same on Twitter:

Brown has a .275/.375/.400 line against left-handers in 48 plate appearances at the major league level, including a home run.

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