5
2012
Mets 2012 MLB Draft Review
An article by Craig Lerner
Here’s a round-up of the Mets selections of the 2012 First Year Player Draft which continues today and into tomorrow. I am including comment from MLB Draft Guru Jonathan Mayo or some other dignitary, for the first five rounds and also including their Baseball America rank in the Top 500 Draft Prospects.
Round 1 (#12) – Gavin Cecchini, SS, High School (LA)
Jonathan Mayo: Cecchini has a quick stroke with good extension, enabling him to make consistent hard contact. He’s got mostly gap power now and his speed plus instincts allow him to be a basestealing threat and take the extra base. Those instincts also help him defensively. While his hands are good and he grades out as average with his arm and range, some think a move to second might be better. Either way, this scrappy middle infielder is sure to get plenty of looks in the spring.
Baseball America Rank: 16
Comp Rd. (#35) – Kevin Plawecki, C, Purdue
Jonathan Mayo: Plawecki is an offensive catcher with a lot of ability with the bat. He makes consistent contact with a short swing that allows him to stay in the center of the field. With a contact first approach, Plawecki’s power is fringy right now, but there’s a lot of strength to potentially tap into in the future. While his arm is fringe average, at best, the other parts of his defensive game are more than fine to stay behind the plate. He works with pitchers well, calling his own game. He has good hands, frames pitches and blocks them well. He has the size and body frame you want from a catcher.
Baseball America Top 500 Rank: 67
Round 2 (#71) – Matt Reynolds, 3B, Arkansas
Jonathan Mayo: While he might not be among the top tier of college bats in this class, he has some skills that could translate at the next level. With a balanced set-up at the plate, Reynolds has a good approach and hits line drives. He doesn’t have a ton of power, mostly to the gaps, and is more consistent to the pull side. Without average power, Reynolds will have to learn how to hit to all fields. He’s a heads-up baserunner who will swipe some bases even without particularly good speed. He’s a very good defender, with the potential to be above average with his arm and fielding to go along with solid average range. Reynolds plays mostly third, but has seen time at shortstop, and that kind of flexibility will only help his value. If the bat doesn’t progress, he could have a very good future as a utility type.
Baseball America Top 500 Rank: 147
Round 2 (#75) – Teddy Stankiewicz, RHP, High School (TX)
Jonathan Mayo: High school pitchers are often projectable. Sometimes, they have good pitchability. Every once in a while, there’s one like Stankiewicz, who’s a little bit of both. Tall and lanky, there’s room for growth in the Texas prep right-hander’s frame. That could mean a few more ticks to a fastball that can already touch 93 and sits in the 88-91 mph range. Stankiewicz backs up the fastball with plus pitching instincts, mixing in three other pitches for strikes. His slider is the better of his two breaking balls, but both could be at least Major League average. He may not throw the changeup that much at this level, but he shows a good feel for it. If the fastball develops into a plus pitch and his secondary stuff is average to go along with his outstanding command and mound presence, this is a Major League starter in the making.
Baseball America Top 500 Rank: 137
Round 3 (#107) – Matt Koch, RHP, Univ. of Louisville
Jonathan Mayo: While Koch has shared closing duties with senior Derek Self at Louisville this season, he’s still shown enough with a good two-pitch power repertoire to garner some attention. The lean, wiry and strong right-hander will throw his fastball up to 94 mph, sitting comfortably a tick below that. There’s some good life to the heater as well, and he commands it well. He also throws strikes with a hard slider that has good bite and depth. Koch seems to have the right mentality for a life in short relief, showing a willingness to take the ball at the end of the game and go right after hitters. Two Major League average or better power pitches with good command should be enough to get Koch drafted early and should help him move up the ladder quickly.
Baseball America Top 500 Rank: 61
Round 4 (#140) – Branden Kaupe, SS, High School (Hawaii)
Perfect Game: Scouts from the mainland got an early look at the top high-school talent in Hawaii, and left with the impression that the 5-foot-5, 175-pound Kaupe was the best talent in this year’s class. Despite his obvious lack of size, Kaupe showcased impressive speed and solid actions at shortstop, though he probably faces a shift across the bag to second base as he advances. Kaupe also showed some ability as a switch-hitter to drive balls.
Baseball America Top 500 Rank: Unranked (uh oh, I smell trouble)
Round 5 (#170) - Brandon Welch, RHP, Palm Beach State College
Jonathan Mayo: Welch is one of the more intriguing prospects in the Draft. His fastball sits in the mid 90s, and he also has a hard slider. He has excellent command of both pitches and rarely walks a batter. However, Welch is not the biggest guy in the world, leading some scouts to think he will be a reliever at the next level. Either way, Welch’s aggressive nature and pure stuff are what will get him drafted.
Baseball America Top 500 Rank: 135
Rounds 6-40
Rd. 6 (200), Jayce Boyd, 1B, Florida State
Rd. 7 (230), Corey Oswalt, RHP, Madison (Calif.) HS
Rd. 8 (260), Tomas Nido, C, Orangewood Christian (Calif.) HS
Rd. 9 (290), Richie Rodriguez, 2B, Eastern Kentucky
Rd. 10 (320), Paul Sewald, RHP, San Diego
Rd. 11 (350), Logan Taylor, RHP, Eastern Oklahoma State JC
Rd. 12 (380), Rob Whalen, RHP, Haines City (Fla.) HS
Rd. 13 (410), Matt Bowman, RHP, Princeton
Rd. 14 (440), Chris Flexen, RHP, Newark Memorial (Calif.) HS
Rd. 15 (470), Nick Grant, RHP, Milford (Del.) HS
Rd. 17 (530), Stefan Sabol, C, Orange Coast CC
Rd. 18 (560), Paul Paez, LHP, Rio Hondo College
Rd. 19 (590), Tyler Vandenheiden, RHP, Samford U
Rd. 20 (620), Tim Peterson, RHP, Kentucky
Rd. 21 (650), Gary Ward, LHP, Bethel U.
Rd. 22 (680), Tejay Antone, RHP, Legacy (Texas) HS
Rd. 23 (710), Connor Baits, RHP, Point Loma (Calif,) HS
Rd. 24 (740), Andrew Massie, RHP, Dyer County (Tenn.) HS
Rd. 25 (770), Leon Byrd, 2B, Cypress Ranch (Texas) HS
Rd. 26 (800), Chris Shaw, 1B, Lexington (Mass.) HS
Rd. 27 (830), Zach Arnold, C, Franklin County (Ky.) HS
Rd. 28 (860), Jacob Marks, RHP, St. Clair SS
Rd. 29 (890), Austin Barr, C, Camas (Wash.) HS
Rd. 30 (920), Dustin Cook, RHP, Hargrave (Texas) HS
Rd. 31 (950), Vance Vizcaino, SS, Wakefield (N.C.) HS
Rd. 32 (980), Jon Leroux, 1B/C, Northeastern
Rd. 33 (1010), Jared Price, RHP, Twin Valley (Pa.) HS
Rd. 34 (1040), Mikey White, SS, Spain Park (Ala.) HS
Rd. 35 (1070), Brad Markey, RHP, Sante Fe (Fla.) CC
Rd. 36 (1100), Donovan Walton,SS, Bishop Kelly (Okla.) HS
Rd. 37 (1130), Ben Distefano, C, Lawrence E. Elkins (Texas) HS
Rd. 38 (1160), Jeff Reynolds, 3B, Harvard
Rd. 39 (1190), Patrick Ervin, 2B, Pace (Fla.) HS
Rd. 40 (1220), David Gonzalez, RHP, Gainesville (Ga.) HS
About the Author: Craig Lerner
I'm a data analyst and researcher for a leading news agency who loves life and is hooked on the Mets. I love following the Amateur Draft and have a particular fondness for the Mets Minor Leagues who I follow each day. Give me a cold beer, a summer day, and a Mets game, and I'm good to go.
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“I spoke to Paul DePodesta and the Mets are very excited about their draft selections.” – Harold Reynolds
Yes Harold, as are all the other 29 Scouting Directors.
Ha! Talk about stating the obvious Reynolds. Nice find Lerner.
So wait, the mets picked were as follow:
The #71 ranked player by BA was picked #35? Horrible
the #137 Ranked player by BA was picked #75? Horrible
The #147 Ranked player by BA was picked #71? Pathetic
But hey, to depodesta’s advantage, Matt Moore
(who i loved BTW) was ranked as the #2 prospect in baseball…. So… Yeah…
But hey we got a 135 with a 170 and a 61 with a 107. Does that even out?
I think this is where someone like Vinny B comes in and tells you we should wait a few years before we can judge the selections.
Right?
wait, weren’t you one of the people that rants and raves about how terrible BA was, their rankings were meaningless, etc?
Alex,
The nonsence you focus on is mind numbing. I’m convinced the The Mets and the current FO could run off 5 WS champioships in a row and you would still find a reason for not liking them. Let’s call it what it is, you’re a hater. Not sure what they did to you maybe they fired a friend of yours, whatever. You’re either a hater (I mean that only when it pertains to FO or David Wright, not as a person since I don’t know you personally), a contrarian, or you just not happy unless you’re finding something to complain about.
I’m just curious have you seen any of these guys play. So how do you know? Because someone else ranked them. Give me a break and find another team to root for.
Baseball America Rank: 61 (This should cheer up Alex68) Should it????? My point was that BA ranks player as they perform in the bigs then they come up as if they know everything about a player…
How was Kaupe’s hitting? Did they draft the next Altuve?
Reading what little I have so far on these draftees The Mets pick I find I like the most so far is the HS pitcher Stankiewicz. He apparently is committed to the University of Arkansas but with this years rule my understanding is signability is key in the draft so I am guessing the Mets are confident that he will sign.
Here is a quote from the Arkansas head coach on the kid.
“Teddy’s fastball usually sits 90-93 with movement and he can really locate,” (Razorback head coach Dave Van) Horn said. “He’s very polished for his age.”
http://espn.go.com/high-school/baseball/recruiting/player/evaluation/_/id/145206/teddy-stankiewicz
Stankiewicz is an interesting pick as he is another prospect that committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks that the Mets scavenged from their team(Nimmo and Fulmer being the others from last years draft). I know the Razorback program hates the Mets staff right about now.
I like the Cechinni, Stankiewicz picks but while I dont love the Plawecki pick I can understand them reaching for the 2nd best all-around catcher in this years draft. With all the talented pitchers we have knocking on the major league door Plawecki whom is said to be a great receiver, whom also calls his own games and has been successful doing so seems like a definite need pick. I dont understand drafting Matt Reynolds with the 2nd pick a 3B with no power. So far the Mets have added no power through the 1st 5 rds unless the 5 foot 5 kid has some power stashed.
I’m honestly not to enthusiastic about the Mets overall draft thus far. Not a lot of upside in my eyes
“I’m honestly not to enthusiastic about the Mets overall draft thus far.”
Same here so far but the sense I get based on some posts is that this years draft just is not that deep in good pitching prospects overall compared to last year’s draft. In your opinion do you see find this to be the case as well?
Off Topic: Interesting article by Jayson Stark on Instant Replay coming to baseball and how it was supposed to be in place this season which if it was would of most likely negated the Mets 1st no-hitter.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/stark_jayson/id/8011949/new-instant-replay-system-works
for those of you not so excited about the mets selections, let me tell you this: Get excited about brandon welch. the kid brings it, has a killer slider, and is relentless and fearless. if you are a mets fan, root for this kid.
Are we seriouslytrying to draft any quality players. They Mets had several shots at Trey Williams now this last pick Rob Whalen when Max Foody was still available and taken a few picks later. The Cards got their payback with this draft. Are the Mets even trying
After this last pick I’m officially done. I thought finding a catcher was a priority for this team. Last pick of the day some pitcher out of HS named nickgramt when Nelson Rodriguez was availavble. And the kid is local. Look at the last RCA and who we could have had. Foody ,Trey Williams and now Nelson Rodriguez. These 3 players would have helped save this miserable draft
Brandon Welch
“Round 8 (#260) – Tomas Nido, C, High School (CA) – Baseball America #303″
LOVE this pick and soon enough, you all will too. Trust me.
i firmly believe this draft will get sandy and all his boys (depodesta & riccardi) fired .. they drafted no power bats on a team that has no power bats .. i thought that sandy said that power/slugging is what he wants in his players .. could have fooled me
I COMPLETELY agree. There is next to no power in this organization. They passed on both Hawkins and Gallo, the two biggest power bats in this draft.
They overdrafted just about everyone, save Cecchini. Its safe to assume they want to sign all of these guys to the recommended bonus. Why – maybe because they have no money.
It was a weak pool of draft talent – but on the surface, the Mets had a HORRIBLE draft. They completely blew it. I did like the catcher in the supplemental round, though.
Less than 20% of players drafted to the MLB every make it out of the minors.
Why do people get so wrapped up on this? How HORRIBLE they did, no one will know a damn thing for at least 4 – 5 years, yet TODAY was Horrible?
Finally a voice of reason. This is all speculation! In football and basketball it is far more trackable and one can some what tell if a mistake was made early on. This is absolutely not the case with baseball. There are sooo many youngsters playing and many still need to develop. Lets not forget how K. Hernandez was drafted, I believe somewhere in rounds 40. J. Izzy also in the 40s, and M. Piazza in the 60s I believe. Don Mattingly was a non power hitting late rounder. It’s all about development in baseball.
Its that they passed on higher-ranked players throughout the first ten rounds. That’s the gist of it.