NEW YORK — American Idol winner David Cook took batting practice with the Mets today before their game against the San Diego Padres, and ripped a couple nice hits to right-center field while batting lefthanded under the watchful eye of David Wright.

Cook, 25, who also threw out the first pitch, has the exact same birthday as Wright — Dec. 20, 1982. He grew up playing Legion baseball in Blue Springs, Mo., and was a fan of the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs.

In fact, Cook was wearing a Chiefs baseball cap — signed by, of all people, former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and former Devils defenseman Ken Daneyko — when he hit the field. The Mets promptly gave him a Mets hat.

“I am a Kansas City sports fan, but I’m a baseball fan, more than anything,” Cook said. “To be able to come to Shea, with all the history and the fact there’s going to be a new stadium next season, is really cool.”

Cook, whose baseball heroes include George Brett, Buck O’Neil, and Frank White, is currently touring the tri-state area and working on a record he hopes will be released by the end of November. The exposure gained by becoming the latest American Idol is priceless.

“I couldn’t buy this before, it’s huge to be out here,” Cook said. “I’m serious about music, but I’m trying to have fun.”

Cook was joined at BP by Carly Smithson, an American Idol Top 10 finalist. The two are expected to lead the Shea Stadium crowd in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” later this afternoon.

Source: NJ.com