Ex-Mets top prospect’s career ends with a whimper

Philip Humber with the Padres in spring trainingPhilip Humber, jammed a lot of career into not much of a career. And that career is now over, since after San Diego released him, the righty said he was retiring, Padres manager Andy Green said.

He was taken by the Mets with the third overall pick in 2004, one spot after Justin Verlander. Humber was one of three Rice University starters taken in the first eight picks that year, none of whom amounted to much in the majors, perhaps because of heavy workloads in college.

Humber had Tommy John surgery in the minors and made just five appearances for the Mets, including one ill-fated start as the team collapsed late in September 2007. After that…