CINCINNATI - Righthander David Mattox was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the Rule 5 Draft on Monday.

Mattox, 23, was selected off the New York Mets Class AAA Norfolk roster in the first round of the draft. If he does not stay on the Reds 25-man roster all next season, they will have to offer him back to New York at half the $50,000 acquisition price.

The 6-2, 195-pound pitcher spent the 2003 season at Class AA Binghamton, where he went 8-7 with a 3.49 ERA in 20 starts and one relief appearance. In 2002, he was the Mets minor league pitcher of the year after going 12-6 with a 3.29 ERA in 26 starts at Class A Columbia and St. Lucie.

Mattox originally was selected by the Mets in the 11th round of the June 2001 first-year player draft.