In addition to Louisiana high school shortstop Gavin Cecchini (12th overall pick) and Purdue catcher Kevin Plawecki (35th overall), the Mets have confirmed the signings of 13 other selections from last week’s draft according to ESPN..
Rd. 3 (107), Matt Koch, RHP, Louisville
Rd. 4 (140), Branden Kaupe, SS, Baldwin (Hawaii) HS
Rd. 5 (170), Brandon Welch, RHP, Palm Beach 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. 12 (380), Rob Whalen, RHP, Haines City (Fla.) HS
Rd. 13 (410), Matt Bowman, RHP, Princeton
Rd. 17 (530), Stefan Sabol, C, Orange Coast CC
Rd. 19 (590), Tyler Vandenheiden, RHP, Samford U
Rd. 20 (620), Tim Peterson, RHP, Kentucky
Rd. 38 (1160), Jeff Reynolds, 3B, Harvard
Plawecki, Koch, Welch, Rodriguez, Sewald, Whalen, Bowman, Sabol, Vanderheiden, Peterson and Reynolds will play for Brooklyn, which opens play Monday. Cecchini, Kaupe, Oswalt and Nido will play for Kingsport, which begins play the following day.
Yesterday, before the Mets game against the Cincinnati Reds, 2012 first-round pick Gavin Cecchini and supplemental first-round pick Kevin Plawecki took part in batting practice in what has become somewhat of a new tradition with the Mets of late.
The team announced that Louisiana high school shortstop Gavin Cecchini, 18, will be joining the Mets Rookie League affiliate Kingsport, while the former Purdue catcher Kevin Plawecki will begin his pro career with the short-season Class-A Brooklyn Cyclones.
Cecchini wore uniform No. 2 in homage to his idol Derek Jeter.
“Derek Jeter’s my favorite player,” he said. “The reason he’s my favorite player is because he plays the game hard, always. He runs out balls hard, and he’s a great [role] model for me and all the rest of the kids.”
Cecchini and Plawecki were selected 12th and 35th overall, and the Mets wasted no time signing them. Both will begin playing next week when Kingsport and Brooklyn open their seasons.
