Mets' Becerra, Lupo arrested for drag racing

A pair of Mets prospects were arraigned Monday morning after both were arrested and charged with drag racing last week.

Rookie-level Kingsport's Wuilmer Becerra, 19, and Vicente Lupo, 20, were arrested early July 4 when Kingsport Police stopped the pair for allegedly driving more than 100 mph. Neither had valid U.S. drivers licenses, according to police.

Police said drag racing is a Class B misdemeanor, which means the players would likely only face fines.

According to police, Becerra was allegedly clocked at 107 mph in his 2013 Dodge Challenger, while Perez was cited for allegedly doing 104 mph in his Ford Mustang. Kingsport general manager Brian Paupeck said the Mets are looking into the incident but wouldn't be issuing a statement, according to WCYB.com. Accorrding to the Associated Press, Mets media relations director Jay Horwitz said the team is aware of the situation and also declined further comment.

Both players posted bond and were released Friday following their arrest, according to the New York Daily News.

Lupo and Bucerra, both outfielders, are from Venezuela and originally signed as international free agents. Bucerra inked a free agent deal with Toronto in 2011 and was part of the trade that sent pitcher Noah Syndergaard, now the Mets' No. 1 prospect, and catchers Travis d'Arnaud and John Buck to the Mets for R.A. Dickey in 2012. He's hitting .233 with a homer, six RBIs and a .320 on-base percentage in 13 games this year with Kingsport in the Appalachian League.

Lupo signed with the Mets in July 2010 and posted big numbers in 2012 when he hit .343 with 10 homers, 45 RBIs, a dozen steals and a .500 OBP in 49 games with the Mets' Dominican Summer League affiliate. He hit .220 in the Gulf Coast League last summer and was batting .194 with a homer in 31 at-bats over 11 games this season in Kingsport.

The right-handed Caracas native was diagnosed in 2011 with malignant hyperthermia, a potentially fatal inherited disorder usually associated with the administration of certain general anesthetics. He's also suffered injuries to his wrist and neck, but projects as a power-hitting outfielder with speed when healthy.