By Justin Sheinis / Buffalo Bisons

After a four-year absence, Mike Jacobs is back to where it all began.

“Being back with the Mets is kind of like a feeling of coming home,” Jacobs said.

Drafted in the 38th round of the 1999 draft by the Mets, the 29-year old spent his first seven professional seasons with the organization. He made his major league debut with the Mets in 2005, before moving on to play for the Florida Marlins and most recently, the Kansas City Royals.

Jacobs ‘returned home’ by signing a minor league deal with the ‘Amazins this off-season with an invite to spring camp. The Mets wanted depth at first baseman, a wise notion as Daniel Murphy started the season on the disabled list.

That void was filled by Jacobs to start the year. But New York quickly turned their eyes toward red-hot prospect Ike Davis and after just two weeks, the switch was made. Davis joined New York and Jacobs was designated for assignment.

Jacobs now had the difficult decision to make: become a free agent or return to the minor leagues for the first time in over five seasons.

“This last week has kind of been tough,” Jacobs stated. “[Being designated] gave me a chance to just clear my head a little bit and spend some time with the family.”

After some careful thought, Jacobs accepted his assignment and joined the Bisons in Pawtucket on Sunday. He’s made it clear he’s excited to help the Herd win as well as prove that he is worthy of another shot at the big leagues.

Jacobs got off to a great start in his new setting, homering in his first game with the Herd.

“I think when your in the big leagues and you’re wanting to do something so much, you’re wanting to hit for power, drive in runs and hit home runs, that you kind of force things a bit, and put a little to much pressure on yourself and try to do to much,” said Jacobs.

Playing [at Triple-A] kind of clears your mind. It eases it a little bit and let’s you get back to having fun. Back to just playing baseball. Whether I’m here for a week, two weeks, a month or the whole year, I’m actually looking forward to it.”

Jacobs has good reason to feel comfortable with the Mets. He thrived in his early years with the organization, even winning the Sterling Award in 2003 for the top minor league player in the system.

For the two years prior to ’03, Jacobs had a familiar face work with him. Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell was at the helm for Single-A Capital City in 2001 and Single-A St. Lucie in 2002 during the slugger’s time in the system.

“I’ve been around him a long time. He’s a great guy and a great manager. He let’s us go out there and play,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs’s meteoric rise to the majors began with a spectacular debut on August 21, 2005, Jacobs smashed a three-run pinch-hit home run in his first ever major league at-bat. He then continued to hit three more homers in his next three games, setting an all-time major league record for the most home runs by a player in the first four games of his career.

Jacobs went on to hit .310 with 11 homers and 23RBI in just 30 games with the Mets that season.

However, after the 2005 season, Jacobs was part of a trade with the Marlins that landed Carlos Delgado in New York and sent Jacobs to Florida. In three years with the fish, he hit 69 homers, including a career best 32 long balls in 141 games in 2008.

In 2009, Jacobs hit 19 home runs with the Royals. He had one, the 100th of his career, during his brief time with the Mets this season. He hopes to add to that total soon.

“Obviously I want to be in the big leagues. Right now it’s not working out, but I am going to make the best of the opportunity that I have down here,” declared Jacobs.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.