Photo via Perfect Game
This year’s MLB draft was very different than drafts from years past. But regardless, the Mets still added some high-end talent to their farm system.
The Mets 2020 draft class is as follow:
No. 19: CF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Harvard-Westlake (CA)
No. 52: RHP J.T. Ginn, Mississippi State
No. 69: CF Isaiah Greene, Corona (CA)
No. 91: SS Anthony Walter, SDSU
No. 120: C/UT Matthew Dyer, Arizona
No. 150: RHP Eric Orze, University of New Orleans
Mojo A-
I have to say I’m pretty happy with this draft considering how short it was compared to every other year.
Despite the limitations of a five round draft, I think the Mets made the most of it, especially with their top three picks.
They kind of punted a bit on that fourth selection, but I honestly think that their last pick, Eric Orze, could be a sleeper pick — with a 96 mph fastball and solid control.
Overall I think the Mets did the best they could with what they had and I certainly can’t be mad about how things turned out given the circumstances.
(Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tim A
What grade are we giving the Mets based on this draft? I don’t know enough about the incoming draft class to give a truly informed opinion.
But from what I’m seeing — Brodie, Tommy Tanous, and the rest of the Mets’ scouting and evaluation department knocked it out of the park.
Crow-Armstrong appears to be a beast, Ginn has top-10 overall talent, and Isaiah Greene has the raw skill to be a five-tool player one day. If everyone signs? A+. Otherwise, a solid, well-earned A
Dilip A-
I like the draft overall, but Ginn’s injury holds me back from slapping an A grade on them. Injuries aside, Ginn is not as polished as some of his other counterparts.
The same goes for PCA and Greene as hitters. Both are great athletes with decent tools on the board.
This draft seems to place a much bigger responsibility on the player development aspect than previous drafts did.
I also like the selections of Dyer and Orze. Orze’s splitter is a legitimate out pitch.
Christopher A-
While the Mets did grab themselves three very good players in this draft, I feel like they could have done a little better so they get a A- grade in my book.
I LOVE the selection of Crow-Armstrong and I truly believe that he has the ceiling of a potential five-tool player once he begins filling out his frame and adding power.
OF Isaiah Greene is a nice complement to PCA possessing pretty much the same tools, frame, and profile…..just without the performance or the international experience to back it up (Though he did outperform him during Team USA scrimmages).
Having him develop alongside with PCA could help Greene tap into those raw skills and give the club an excellent 1-2 punch at the top of the order in the future.
The reason I don’t give the Mets an A, though is cause of the selection of J.T. Ginn.
Don’t get me wrong, in terms of taking a chance on “a college arm who’s fallen due to risk”, the Mets made the best possible selection here.
Ginn has 3 solid pitches that play up due to his above average control, and he certainly has the performance record to back up the selection after being named the 2019 SEC Freshman of the Year.
That said, it certainly makes me nervous drafting a guy who’s recovering from Tommy John Surgery and had arm soreness issues before that.
Ernest A-
Never draft for need. It has been said a thousand times.
But how often do you have the chance to upgrade an entire farm system at a particular position while simultaneously acquiring young high end talent?
For years we have heard the Mets preach the importance of acquiring more athletes, speed, and defense?
Yet the on-field product at major league level has remained one filled with guys out of position who are there to generate power without speed.
This draft helped towards building that new era of what has been spoken on for a few years now, as was 2019.
I love the guys with actual CF potential, speed, arm strength, and defense taken this year.
The Mets have tried in past years going with guys of course like Kelenic, but also players like Desmond Lindsay and Champ Stuart.
Time will tell, but this crop is different, along with 2019, then past years of acquiring what has become future major-level players who reached the goal but perhaps haven’t truly shined.
The idea of stockpiling “high ceiling” over “high floor” players can be risky, but the draft is always risky. Trust the new player development and coaching staff.
As with the position of SS, players who can legitimately play CF can also move to a corner if the team needs.
The future could present a ‘good problem to have’ with an array of talented players like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Isaiah Greene, to go with the young former international signings within the system like 19-year old Stanley Consuegra, could build something exciting in the outfield.
As for J.T. Ginn, in Ricky Meinhold I trust. He will have a chance to grow into his own “high ceiling” as well.
Photo: New Orleans
Matt A
I’m a big fan of the Mets’ recent draft haul.
The amateur scouting team employed the same strategy as last year by taking high-upside players with their first couple picks, then spending the rest of their draft saving money.
Similar to last year, this draft revolved around three players: OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, RHP J.T. Ginn, and OF Isaiah Greene.
You should never draft for need, but the Mets looked like they did so by replenishing a minor-league system that’s barren of many quality outfielders.
They also reached into the college ranks to select Ginn, a player who they had interest in dating back to the 2018 draft.
If signed, Ginn will join Matthew Allan, Josh Wolf, and Robert Dominguez as lower-level arms that have shown promise.
I’m also intrigued by the Mets’ last selection, RHP Eric Orze — a two-time cancer survivor who has shown an above-average fastball and splitter.
Overall, I think it was a job well done by Tommy Tanous and his crew.
Michelle A –
You don’t draft for need. We see time and time again (especially in recent history) our prime minor leaguers being traded away before event setting foot on the grounds of Citi Field.
But, the Mets have a depleted farm system, especially when it comes to the outfield.
It makes sense for the Mets to go after that first, and they chose a good one with Pete Crow-Armstrong (I mean, have you heard this kid talk? He sounds like a mini Pete Alonso already).
Going for a couple of outfield guys, a couple of arms, and a utility guy is a good arsenal to have.
Ryan A
I love to rip Brodie Van Wagenen anytime I get the chance, but I have to admit that the draft has become a real strength so far during his tenure as GM.
While I don’t believe that scouting is entirely Brodie’s domain, he has put together a great talent-evaluations team.
In a five-round draft, the Mets landed three real high-upside talents in Pete Crow-Armstrong, J.T. Ginn, and Isaiah Greene.
His strategy from last year’s draft of underslotting picks to land more premium talent in Matthew Allan was brilliant and is now becoming more prevalent across the league.
Looking across his first two drafts, Brodie has landed six players that could one day be top 100 MLB prospects. Now all he has to do is not trade them away for aging middle infielders.
Alexis A
Heading into the 2020 MLB Draft, Brodie Van Wagenen and the New York Mets knew they needed impact players and in their first three picks they got them in OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, RHP, J.T. Ginn, and CF, Isaiah Greene.
Another impact signing was their fifth pick, catcher, Matthew Dyer. All four of these players were considered leaders on their college and high school rosters and are known for their impact on and off of the field.
Crow-Armstrong, Greene, and Dyer all have the capability of producing strong at-bats with strong power off the bat.
They are all also known for their strong defensive abilities, and rocket arms. Greene and Dyer will also be threats on the base paths with their speed.
J.T. Ginn, a top-10 pick in 2018 before undergoing Tommy John surgery last Spring, has topped speeds of 96 mph on his fastball, with a nasty slider, and great control.
All four of these players are going to be exciting prospects to watch work their way through the Mets farm system.
Steve B+
For the purposes of this article I am going to assume that all players drafted do sign with the team.
Considering where the Mets had their selection in the first round, I don’t think many fans could have asked for a better choice than Pete Crow-Armstrong.
A legit centerfielder who can not only play the position, but has no questions about his long-term future at it either.
While some scouts were concerned that the power aspect of his game might not develop, I am not as worried.
I think his alternative ceiling of elite defense with a bat capable of hitting .280 plus would be just what the Mets have been missing out of the centerfield position for some time now.
The Mets next pick is one I have reservations about, thus making my grade a B+ vs. and A.
While J.T. Ginn has all the potential in the world, I am worried about a player who is coming off TJS and while he pitched well during his Freshman year at MSU, it was not without a some injury lessened starts.
His delivery has always been questionable and has led some to believe his future may be in the bullpen.
Due to the fact he was a draft eligible sophomore and pre TJS was a possible top-10 pick, his bargaining position left the Mets in the position to have to draft under-slot in rounds 3-5.
With some other pitchers available with comparable upside on the board (Witt, Mace, Brown to name a few) and perhaps less monetary demands,I am not completely sold on Ginn being the correct choice.
I do believe the correct choice was made on their next selection of Isaiah Greene.
A late-blooming, athletic player who came on strong during the 2019 summer circuit and had there been a 2020 season, I believe he could have played himself into first round discussions.
As far as the other three picks go, they seem to be under-slot players who were taken with the idea that money saved on them can be used to sign both Ginn and Greene.
With that in mind, I am impressed with Dyer’s versatility.
While everyone is talking about the fact Orze is a two time Cancer Survivor (something that should be completely celebrated), I am focused on his split-finger fastball that should help him move quickly through the bullpen rankings as an above-average out pitch.
Ted
A-
I wish the team selected cost-savers that actually weren’t random players in rounds 3 and 4.
However, while we usually say best-player available, they went after their organization’s biggest weakness in up the middle outfield types, and got two players with great upside.
That’s more than I could have hoped for.
Learn More About This Year’s Draft Class!
Pete Crow-Armstrong
J.T. Ginn
Isaiah Greene
Anthony Walter
Matthew Dyer
Eric Orze
