Photo courtesy of Mississippi State Athletics
The New York Mets had a very successful draft in 2019, which was largely highlighted by the likes of Brett Baty and Matthew Allan, who the Mets took in the third-round despite being a first-round talent that appeared destined to go to college.
However, the Mets managed to sign him and find enough money to make that work and part of that was due to the fact that their fourth-round draft pick, Jake Mangum, took a significantly under-slot bonus of $20,000.
Mangum, 23, has so far played in three games for the Brooklyn Cyclones and is 4-for-15 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored in his limited time playing professionally.
The outfielder has had a history with New York prior to this, though, having been drafted by the New York Yankees in 2017 (30th round) and the New York Mets in 2018 (32nd round).
Both times, though, the switch-hitter decided to return to college with the Mississippi State Bulldogs where he broke the SEC hits record and also helped lead his team to the College World Series in 2019.
I had the privilege of speaking with the outfielder last week prior to his first professional game.
MMO: This wasn’t your first time being drafted by the Mets, so did you have a feeling that they might draft you again and that they liked you a lot, or were you surprised that happened?
Mangum: I had a feeling that they liked me a lot and that I fit in for what they wanted as an outfielder at that level. I think I fit well with the organization and what they stand for, I really do.
MMO: When you were drafted your first two times, were you seriously considering signing or did you really want to go back and finish your college degree?
Mangum: I decided to wait and see how the draft went and I got a couple calls before it. What they were telling me they were willing to offer wasn’t enough for me to cut my college years short and decided to come back my senior year. Obviously, when you come out as a senior you’re not going to sign for much which is just part of the gig. But, if I could do it again, I would because college baseball was the best four years of my life and pro ball is still here for me.
MMO: You actually grew up in a household full of football players, what was that like for you?
Mangum: It was a lot of tough guys, man. My dad is one of the most serious people you will meet in your life and my uncle is the same way. I never met my grandfather because he passed away before I was born, but all three of them played in the NFL and they were good at it. After ninth grade, I quit playing football just to play baseball year round, it was just the sport I loved and was better at so I channeled all of my energy towards baseball and I’m really glad I did.
MMO: What was your reasoning for passing up football?
Mangum: I loved football, but I loved baseball more. Baseball’s my life. I really like playing it and I’d like to think I’m pretty good at it.
MMO: One of the things I wanted to talk about that I found very interesting about you is that you, in your very last college baseball press conference (which can be seen here), decided to take the time to talk about an issue in the sport that really stood out to you, in terms of scholarships for players and the work assistant coaches’ have to put in with no compensation, what prompted you to do that?
Mangum: Just how much the game of college baseball has evolved. I just saw that with all of the games in the College World Series added up, 350,000 people were there to watch. That’s not including the million people watching on TV. The game is getting way too big for there to be on 11.7 scholarships. It’s ridiculous. I was a walk-on my last two years of college so that the money could go somewhere else.
MMO: Wow, that’s very nice of you I’ve got to say.
Mangum: I was fortunate enough to be raised by parents who could afford to pay for my education and I wanted our team to win and to do that, you’re going to have to get some out-of-state kids who need money in order to go to school and they needed scholarship money. So, my family and I decided to sacrifice the scholarship for two years in order for it to go somewhere else.
On top of that, there’s not a third paid assistant coach, which is ridiculous. If you understood how much that third, unpaid assistant coach does for the program every year, it’s laughable that they don’t get paid and it’s an injustice Vanderbilt head coach, Tim Corbin, even used the word sinful. College baseball is getting way too big. It’s a joke and needs to be addressed immediately.
MMO: I completely agree with you on that and really liked that you gave that speech. I’ve been a proponent of helping out players in college baseball for awhile such as with the scholarships. I just don’t see why they haven’t done anything about it yet.
Mangum: And, anyone with a brain would agree. I mean, just look at the facts, they speak for themselves. For all the kids do for college baseball, it’s huge. College baseball is so much bigger than it was even a decade ago and the fact is that we can’t do anything for our name, such as I’m not allowed to make any money off of my name or my likeliness.
Now, that’s way down the chart of what needs to be addressed, but there are just so many things that are flawed with the system and it’s the best four years of most kids lives. Don’t take all this away from them.
MMO: You’re spot on this. Do you think it’s important for the athletes to be the ones to call on these changes to get the ball rolling on this?
Mangum: Yeah, and I never spoke out about it until the last time I had a microphone in front of my face, after I got my heart ripped out by Louisville.
MMO: Was there something personal that you saw in regards to the assistant coach issue?
Mangum: Absolutely, that type of coach, which I had a bunch of throughout college, meant so much to me. It always made me upset and blew my mind that they didn’t get paid.
MMO: I noticed when I was doing some research on you that you’ve lived in Mississippi your whole life. Obviously, New York is a completely different place and the media can be very hard to deal with here. Do you believe that being on the National stage in college has helped you and in what ways, if so?
Mangum: Yeah, I lived in Chicago for a few years since my dad played for the Bears. I don’t really remember it, but I’ve traveled all my life. I love being home, don’t get me wrong, but I’m 100% okay with not living at home either. I’m just ready for the next chapter and to help the Mets win some ballgames.
MMO: So, can you give us a little scouting profile on yourself as a player?
Mangum: I play every pitch like it’s my last, that’s the biggest thing. I think that’s where I set myself apart from others. I truly play every game like it’s my last. I leave it all out on the field and if you play hard and if you play hard, good things will happen for you.
MMO: What team did you root for growing up and who were some of the players you looked up to?
Mangum: I was a Braves fan growing up just because they were on TV as I was living in Mississippi. Someone who I look up to now and someone I try to model my game after is Adam Frazier, who plays for the Pirates now. I loved Chipper Jones since he could switch-hit and I’m a switch hitter.
MMO: Have you had any notable conversations with any of the Mets’ players or members of the coaching staff and/or front office?
Mangum: Yeah, down at Port St. Lucie, at the GCL League I met with Ryan Ellis who’s in charge of hitting and Ronny Reyes who works in the offices. I met a ton of people and they’re really great people that are all working hard to get the Mets ready.
MMO: Nice, so this is a question I ask a lot of people that I interview, but was there a moment where you realized that baseball was something that you could go far with?
Mangum: You know, I’d actually just like to think I’m consistent in my game. I never really get too high or too low and I take a lot of pride in that. During the four years I had in college, I never really had a time where I struggled until my senior year during the last weekend of the regular season. There were four games left in the year, and I was hitting .401 and I went on a 4-for-50 stretch and through my actions, you couldn’t tell if I was 4-for-50 or 50-for-50.
The one time I struggled in college, I maintained a level-head and got out of it pretty quick. At the next level, there are going to be times where I struggle and I just need to stay positive. But, I’m the type of player that if you come to the ballpark and watch, you’re going to respect the way I play. That’s the one thing I can promise.
At the next level, it’s going to be tough. The road to the show is tough, but I think I can do it and I’m going to play my butt off to try and get up there as fast as I can.
MMO: Obviously, you went pretty far in college baseball with Mississippi, what was your favorite moment playing there?
Mangum: My favorite team moment was the two Omaha trips. Getting to play in Omaha with the guys was something we worked for all year. At the personal level, during my senior year, I broke some records and every time I broke them it was surreal. When I broke the all-time SEC hits record, it was one of the coolest moments I’ve ever been a part of.
In my last at-bat at home in the super regional during the ninth inning, I got a base hit and that was a moment I’ll never forget. There were just so many moments in college, man, that I wish I could just go back and live through again.
Those two on a personal level stand out, but as a team, just getting to that goal you worked so hard for all year and having a shot at the national championship is what you dream of.
MMO: Do you think that being part of a winning culture in high school prepared you for that at all and that having that same success in college could prepare you for professional baseball?
Mangum: I’m just a competitor. I hate losing more than I like winning and that’s the truth. I hate losing, man. It’s like poison to me and I plan to carry that to the next level.
MMO: What is your message to Mets’ fans that are looking forward to seeing you?
Mangum: I’m ready to bring everything I got to the organization and just know that I’m going to give everything I have to the Mets’ organization. When you come to the ballpark and watch me play, just know that I’m going to give it everything that I got. That’s the only thing I can promise.
MMO: So, you really seem to have strong leadership qualities. Do you take a lot of pride in that and how do you think you’ve established it over time?
Mangum: I do. I think that as a teammate and a team guy, the first thing that comes to mind is checking to see whether you make your teammates better or worse. Every day I try to make them better and I know they are trying to do the same for me.
MMO: I’m really glad you said that actually because I’ve always thought that one of the biggest traits for a leader is that you make the people around you better.
Mangum: I think the biggest trait for a leader is consistency. If you get to the ballpark every day and know what the guy beside you is bringing, and it’s always something in a positive way, that’s the true quality of a leader.
MMO: I actually agree with that after hearing that because if you’re consistently the same, you are making everything around you consistent and stable.
Mangum: If you’re a leader, you don’t care if you go 0-for-5 and win or 5-for-5. It’s all about the guys around you getting better and team. You can’t just have days off when you’re upset about an 0-for-5 day and the team wins. You can’t be down on yourself.
MMO: Definitely agree with that. Just to get some light-hearted questions in so your fans can get to know you personally, what’s your favorite movie?
Mangum: I love Will Ferrell. Anything Will Ferrell. My favorite TV show is Game of Thrones, I love that show.
MMO: Were you happy with the way it ended?
Mangum: I was fine with it. They took us on an eight-season, awesome journey. It wasn’t the way I would’ve ended it, but it’s all good. I enjoyed my time.
MMO: What would you say is your favorite food?
Mangum: You can’t beat a nice fillet steak with a baked potato side and some broccoli. If you give me that, I’m a happy camper.
MMO: Lastly, what do you like to do in your free time when you take a break from the game?
Mangum: I love the beach. The beach is my escape. I’m here now for a couple of days before I start my pro-ball journey. They gave me a couple of days off since the college season lasted so long.
MMO: You definitely earned the break, so enjoy it while you have it. I really appreciate you doing the interview with me.
Mangum: You got it, man.
Mangum can be found on Twitter @jakemangum15
