The Mets announced on Friday night that they’ve signed first rounder (14th overall) shortstop Jett Williams. Mets used their second of two first round picks in the 2022 draft on the prep infielder from Rockwall-Heath High School in Texas.
Tim Healey of Newsday reports that the Mets and Williams agreed to a $3.9 million signing bonus. That comes in slightly under the slot value of $4,243,800.
The 18-year-old Williams hit .411 with seven home runs, 41 RBI, 53 runs, and 24 stolen bases this season for Rockwall-Heath.
The 5-8, 175-pounder was also ranked as the No. 1 high school prospect in the state of Texas according to Perfect Game and was named to both the Perfect Game First Team Senior Preseason All-American and the Perfect Game Texas-All Region First team for the 2022 season.
Williams was at Citi Field on Friday before the Mets played the Padres. Williams told reporters New York feels like a second home to him because he lived in Port Jefferson from the time he was two-to-four years old. Williams also said that his dad and brother both went to Stony Brook.
Williams ranked No. 11 in Keith Law’s pre-draft rankings and No. 15 in Baseball America’s. The right-handed hitter has quick hands, strong bat-to-ball skills, and plus speed. He was arguably the second-best prep hitter in the draft according to multiple outlets.
With their first pick (11th overall) of the 2022 draft, the Mets took catcher Kevin Parada from Georiga Tech. After Williams, the Mets selected right-handed pitcher Blade Tidwell from Tennessee with the No. 52 pick and then outfielder Nick Morabito from Gonzaga College High School with the No. 75 pick (compensation for Noah Syndergaard signing with the Angels).
MLB Pipeline called the Mets draft haul the best in baseball and Law had all four of their first picks in the top 50 of his draft prospect rankings.
Williams is the first of that group and the first pick of the Mets 2022 draft to officially sign. The Mets entered the draft with the third highest draft pool at $13,963,000.
