With the 48th pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, the Mets selected RHP Andrew Church, who has committed to the University of San Diego.
The talented young man is a right-hander out of Palo Verde High School in Nevada. Listed at 6’3” / 199 LBs, Church still has some growing to do. His secondaries are below average right now, but his body projects out to add a little more bulk. His fastball should pick up a couple miles and his curveball might progress to be his second best offering. Baseball America listed him as the 90th-ranked prospect of this draft. This is what they had to say:
Church ranked as the No. 90 high school prospect in the country heading into the season. He has a 6-foot-1, 185-pound build and shows some feel for a four-pitch mix.
His fastball sits in the 89-92 mph range with some riding life and he’s dialed it up as high as 95. Church mixes in a mid-to-upper 70s curveball and a changeup and slider that are both in the 78-80 mph range. Church has swing-and-miss stuff and has cleaned up his delivery since the summer showcase circuit. A member of Team Vegas in the summer and fall, Church is committed to San Diego as part of the Torero’s outstanding class.
Paul DePodesta described Church as having the potential for being a solid middle-of the rotation starter who logs innings, with a plus curveball and three-pitch arsenal (fastball that tops out at 93 mph and changeup).
“It was a nice mix of stuff and command,” amateur scouting director Tommy Tanous said. “I went back to see Andrew pitch in his high school playoffs and he was tremendous in that game.”
The Mets wrap up day one of the draft with two high school players which led DePodesta to defend their strategy.
“In an ideal world you’d love to have somebody who is really close to the big leagues, but our specific marching orders that we’ve been given is to try to get the best player available and that’s what we’ve done each of the last three years.”
