Drafted by the New York Mets out of Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, California in the first round of the 1985 amateur draft (#20 overall), Jefferies hit .331 in his first year in the minor leagues, moving from Kingsport of the Appalachian League (rookie) to Jackson of the Texas League (AA) in two years. He was named Minor League Player of the Year for both 1986 and 1987, hitting .367 with 20 home runs, 48 doubles and 101 RBI for Jackson in the latter year, earning Jefferies a brief call-up the New York Mets at the end of the 1987 season. He went 3 for 6 in 6 games, at the age of 19, making him the youngest player in the Major Leagues that season.\n', '

The Mets decided they needed to make room for Jefferies, but didn\'t know where to play him, as the veteran team was full at the spots Jefferies played in the minor leagues (shortstop, third base and second base). The outfield was full also, with the team finding it difficult to get outfielders Lenny Dykstra and Mookie Wilson playing time alongside Darryl Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds, so Jefferies was sent to AAA Tidewater to start the 1988 season.\n', '

After spending most of the 1988 season at AAA (where he hit .282), Jefferies was recalled at the end of August and allowed to play out the year as a starter, mostly at third base. He responded by hitting .321 over the last 29 games of the 1988 season as the team finished with a 100-60 record to win the National League East.\n', '

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