It is always hard to review a draft one year after the draft but this one is more difficult than most because of their strategy of taking high-risk, high-reward options. The Mets entered the draft without a second-round pick because they signed Juan Soto, who had a qualifying offer, and their first pick was pushed all the way back to 38th overall. Throughout the draft they chased upside.

Sixth-rounder Nathan Hall was drafted after getting UCL surgery, fifth-rounder Peyton Prescott was drafted after he got Tommy John surgery and fourteenth-rounder James Smith broke his leg before the draft. Smith decided to go back to college while Hall and Prescott signed.

Mitch Voit. Photo Credit: Binghamton Rumble Ponies

So why did the Mets take two pitchers who just had elbow surgery? Because both of those pitchers would have gone much higher in the draft had they been healthy. The Mets chased upside in the hopes one of them might return on form and outproduce the round they were taken in. Nathan Hall got into some games and has shown off an incredible feel for spin. He ended the year with a 3.57 ERA across 22.2 innings. Peyton Prescott only made it into one game but he is currently pitching in the Arizona Fall League and has looked good.

Mitch Voit was their first pick and while he started off struggling and potentially playing through injury, from late May onwards he lit up the minors. Across the rest of his time in High-A he slashed .259/.380/.424/.794 and earned a promotion to Double-A where he was even better, slashing .347/.430/.517/.947. He split time between shortstop and second base and could make an impact in the majors in 2027.

Second-round pick Antonio Jimenez on the other hand has struggled heavily and was demoted to Single-A, where he struggled initially but bounced back, earning a promotion back to High-A. Unfortunately, he was still a below-average hitter after he return.

Seventh-rounder Cam Tilly had a rough start to his first season of pro ball but was lights out in June pitching to a 1.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP across four starts. He did not pitch again in 2026. He will need to add velocity to capitalize on his stuff, but he is also only 21 years old.

Twelfth-round pick Truman Pauley was traded alongside Luisangel Acuna for Luis Robert Jr., who missed most of the season and was eventually claimed off waivers by the Orioles. Pauley struggled heavily in Single-A, pitching to a 5.30 ERA and 1.54 WHIP.

Fourth-round pick Peter Kussow underwent labrum surgery at the start of the 2026 season which was a huge blow because he was viewed as a very high-upside pick the Mets went over slot to sign.

Sixteenth-round pick Zack Mack has pitched well in Single-A and even got into a game in Triple-A before the end of the season. He has an interesting delivery and a good fastball.

You can view the full draft here: