Voit is the No. 63 prospect ranked by MLB.com.

Mitch Voit. Photo by: LON HORWEDEL

The six-foot, 201-pound right-hander focused mainly on pitching and played third base as well until 2025. In his junior season, he transitioned from pitching and playing third base to playing as a first baseman/ right fielder in 2025 and also got experience at second base as well, showing his versatility to play anywhere he’s needed on the field.

Playing multiple positions isn’t foreign to Voit, who since a young age has enjoyed playing anywhere in the field. In an article by the University of Michigan, Voit was quoted saying, “I didn’t care what position I played, I just wanted to be in the game.”

When he turned to focusing most on his hitting, he went from more of his upside being on the mound to having greater upside at the plate. Analysts have compared him to Gleyber Torres or Mark Vientos as a hitter.

On the mound between 2023-2024, the 20-year-old was 9-4 with a 4.67 career ERA with 66 strikeouts. He threw 98 1/3 innings, giving up 51 earned runs on 103 hits. Opponents had a .270 average against him.

His fastball averaged low-90s, with a low 80s slider.

In 2024, Voit hit .292 with a .572 slugging percentage and a .373 on-base percentage. He recorded 20 multi-hit games and 14 multi-RBI games as well. Known for being a big-time hitter, he has succeeded at the plate all throughout his career, but especially in 2024 and 2025.

Voit had elbow surgery at the end of the 2024 season, but that didn’t slow him down at all as he still played in the field in 2025, transitioning from the mound to second base and focusing more on his batting.

All of his offensive numbers from 2024 upticked even more in 2025 in a big way when he switched his focus from pitching to hitting and playing second base. In 2025, he hit .346 with a .668 slugging percentage and a .471 on-base percentage. He hit 17 doubles, four triples, and 14 home runs, and had 60 RBIs and 53 runs scored in his junior season. He also had a 1.140 OPS for the Michigan Wolverines in 2025.

Voit’s improvements are a testament to the way he approaches the game. “I just trust myself and know that all the work I put in beforehand will help me,” he told Louisa Lynn of Michigan.

In 2025, he earned Perfect Game USA Second Team All-America Honors.

Per Tyler Jennings of Just Baseball, when Voit began to focus more on hitting and less on pitching, he got more disciplined at the rate, taking his strikeout percentage from 22.7 percent to 13.1 percent. His walk percentage went from 8.6 percent to 15.5 percent.

Voit has a powerful swing and tapped 115 mph off the bat to both sides of the field and is known for having a well-rounded offensive profile.

In 2025 he was one of the best all-around hitters in the Big Ten Conference and MLB scouts say he has similarities to former Michigan two-way player Jake Cronenworth. He makes smart swing decisions, can get the barrel to ball well, he hits the ball hard and is a 15-20 home run hitter per season.

Voit also has plus speed making him a threat on the basepaths.

The Mets announced Voit as a two-way player and time will tell with how they choose to use Voit, who has experience playing multiple positions.

The post Mets Select Mitch Voit From Michigan With 38th Overall Pick appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

This year, they exceeded it by $40 million, and to make matters a bit worse, they had already forfeited their second-round draft pick after signing Juan Soto. Between the Soto signing and exceeding the CBT threshold, the Mets were lowered to pick No. 38, which comes in during the Competitive Balance Round A on Sunday.

Speaking with Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Vice president of amateur scouting, Kris Gross, didn’t seem too phased with where the Mets stand heading into an important weekend.

“This is a very deep class, we like,” he said. “I feel like college pitching and high school hitting is exceptionally deep this year. So I think what we’re going to be looking at, at 38, is going to be fairly exciting. There’s a lot of talent on the board.”

The Mets are known for targeting versatile infielders and top prospect outfielders. According to predictions by ESPN, Baseball America, and MLB.com, the one thing that matches up is they all have the Mets taking just that; either a versatile infielder or outfielder, with all three players having the ability to play the outfield.

Potential Options at No. 38

ESPN’s final mock draft by draft experts in the company aligns with the Mets taking a high school hitter. They predict the Mets to take third baseman Quentin Young out of Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California.

JUAN CARLO/THE STAR/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Perfect Game lists Young, who measures in at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, as having, “top of the scale bat speed and raw power, and huge arm strength.” At 18 years old, ESPN.com lauded the raw power of the right-handed hitter, noting that he has hit a ball with an exit velocity of 115.4 mph and has hit five others harder than 110 mph and farther than 420 feet. They compare him to an athlete like Jac Caglianone of the Kansas City Royals, in that he is strong for his age, but the mechanics need work. Because of his knowledge, though, scouts predict he should be able to make adjustments well at the plate.

Young is a utility infielder who is strongest at shortstop, but also has the ability to play at second, third or in the outfield as well. This is another trait that the Mets have been attracted to in past drafts; selecting players who can be versatile and spread out in the field.

Along with their preference for versatile infielders, one of the biggest needs the Mets have entering the draft is outfield depth in the upper minor leagues. Currently, this is arguably the Mets’ weakest position across the board. It is also a position in which the Mets tend to select players with a higher floor and who also have a chance of succeeding.

Young fits the bill for being able to slot into an outfield position as well, and he is ranked by MLB.com as the No. 37 prospect in the 2025 draft class for the reasons mentioned above, along with his performances at MLB’s High School All-American Game and USA Baseball’s under-18 team in the World Cup qualifier. He is a player who can move well for his size and has strong athleticism offensively and defensively. With the ability to throw the ball 95 mph, some scouts think he would be best suited in the outfield, where a strong arm can make all the difference in the world.

Young is currently committed to LSU.

Considering their need for outfield depth, Baseball America has New York targeting that position as well. Whereas ESPN predicts the Mets to draft a high schooler, BA’s latest mock draft has the Mets going with a college player in Max Belyeu from the University of Texas.

Belyeu is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior from Aledo, Texas. The 21-year old bats left and throws right.

In his 2025 junior season, Belyeu slashed .303/.414/.576. He hit seven doubles, one triple, nine home runs and drove in 29 RBIs while scoring 26 runs.

Over the course of his career at Texas, he has batted .318/.414/.616. In three seasons (106 total games), he recorded 23 doubles, two triples, 27 home runs, 84 RBIs and 79 runs scored. He also draws plenty of walks, doing so 27 times his sophomore year and 21 times in his junior campaign.

He is known for his discipline at the plate and putting the ball in play, as well as accumulating big hits with his explosive power.

In the 2024 season, Belyeu was named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team while also earning Perfect Game Second Team All-American, ABCA/Rawlings Second Team All-American, and Big 12 Player of the Year honors, among with more. He was also awarded a spot on the Academic All-Big 12 First Team for his performance in the classroom.

With the Mets being a team that needs outfield depth, along with knowledge and discipline at the plate, Belyeu could be a good fit for the organization.

MLB.com also has the New York Mets taking a top outfielder in left-handed hitter Mason Neville from the Oregon Ducks. A junior from Las Vegas, Nevada, who is 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds. He is the No. 35 prospect in the class according to MLB.com. Neville used to be a two-way player and was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 18th round of the 2022 draft, but decided to take the collegiate route and go to Arkansas.

He transferred to Oregon in 2024 and has played all three outfield positions for them. While he favored center field, he can play all three spots and can make good reads on the ball from any of them.

At the plate, Neville is known for his raw power and athleticism. He has been compared to Cody Bellinger at this point in his development due to the ability to drive the ball through gaps with power, punishing fastballs, and having a bat that can succeed at the next level.

In 2025, Neville batted .290 with 16 doubles, 26 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 67 runs scored.

David Stearns. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Final Thoughts

Gross and staff members in charge of draft operations arrived in Port St. Lucie earlier this week to begin preparations for the draft. President of baseball operations, David Stearns, will join the group this weekend for the draft, which begins Sunday. It is only a two-day event, so it will be fast, but Gross confirmed the team is ready.

“It’s going to be a change, and I think the prep work we put into it will have us prepared and ready to go,” he told DiComo. “But chaos will probably ensue, and it’s going to go fast.”

The first round opens at 6:00 pm ET on Sunday. The Mets will have picks No. 38 and 102 on the first day with a bonus pool allotment of $5,465,900, which ranks No. 29 in the league.

Despite the low bonus pool allotment, the lack of picks might work in the Mets’ favor. This draft is known for its depth over its top talent and the Mets have the luxury of allotting large sums to high school talents to steal them away from college commits. Very similarly to when they drafted Trey Snyder away from Tennessee by offering him second-round money in the fifth round.

On the second day, beginning on Monday, the Mets will have picks No. 133 and 163. They’ll also own the 28th slot in each of the rounds from the fourth through the rest of the draft.

The post Previewing The Mets’ 2025 MLB Draft appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets’ first pick will be at No. 38 on Sunday night. They then have selections at No. 102 Sunday as well, followed by No. 133 and No. 163 in rounds two and three respectively, followed by the No. 28 pick each of the rounds from the fourth through the remainder of the draft. Alexis Farinacci previewed the Mets’ draft and who analysts believe the Mets will pick ahead of Sunday night.

By Roberto Carlo

The Mets on Saturday defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-1. Frankie Montas (2-1, 5.03 ERA) was credited with his second win; Jonathan Bowlan (1-2, 3.79 ERA) was credited with the loss, and Edwin Díaz (1.66 ERA) earned his 19th save on the season.

The Mets and Royals conclude their three-game season and the first half of the 2025 MLB season on Sunday. It will be right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes (8-4, 3.29 ERA, 81 SO) on the mound for the Mets against left-handed pitcher Noah Cameron (3-4, 2.57 ERA, 50 SO) on the mound for the home Royals.

The conclusion of this game will then lead into the All-Star break.

Latest Mets News

The New York Mets announced that prior to David Wright’s number retirement ceremony and Hall of Fame induction, they will be hosting a Mets block party on July 18 at 1:10 p.m. ET at Citi Field.

Per Laura Albanese of Newsday, Dedniel Núñez is headed for his second Tommy John surgery.

Francisco Alvarez hit twto home runs and recorded five RBIs on Saturday for the Syracuse Mets. Alvarez now has seven home runs in his last 12 games.

Per Michael Mayer of Metsmerized Online, Brooks Raley threw a scoreless inning on Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse. So far in his rehab assignment: 9 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 13 K

As noted by the Mets, Francisco Lindor crossed another milestone on Saturday with his 200th career stolen base. Per MLB, Lindor is just one of nine active players to reach 200 career steals.

Latest MLB News

The Atlanta Braves reported left-handed pitcher Joey Wentz to Atlanta. They also recalled infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. to Atlanta, placed infielder Austin Riley on the 10-day injured list with a strained right abdomen and optioned right-handed pitcher Nathan Wiles to Triple-A Gwinnett following Friday’s game.

Major League Baseball on Saturday announced that Paul Skenes will start the 2025 All-Star Game for the National League; MLB announced that it will be Tarik Skubal on the hill for the American League.

Per Major League Baseball, Yankees right fielder and captain Aaron Judge has hit his 350th career home run. He also becomes the youngest player in MLB history to reach No. 350.

Latest on MMO

David Melendi recapped the Mets’ minor league affiliate games from Friday.

Mojo Hill recapped Mark Vientos’ performance on Friday, which included a much-needed big hit for Vientos amidst his recent struggles.

Chris Bello breaks down the MLB power rankings for week 15.

Kai Chang discusses Nuñez’s need for second Tommy John surgery.

Evan Mazza recaps the Mets’ 3-1 win over Royals on Saturday, which included a strong performance from Mets pitching and a Juan Soto home run.

Alexis Farinacci recapped Jonah Tong and Carson Benge’s performances, along with a breakdown of the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game.

On This Date in Mets History

2001: Mike Piazza hit his 300th career home run.

Born on This Date: Mike Fitzgerald (1960), Jack Aker (1940).

The post Morning Briefing: MLB Draft Begins Today appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The now 23-year-old, right-handed pitcher started the game for Single-A St. Lucie on Sunday versus the Jupiter Hammerhead and went 2 2/3 innings. Allan allowed two hits, no runs, while walking only one. Most impressively, he struck out five; four of which were swinging and three of which came in the opening inning.

In Sunday’s game, Allan relied on his four-seam fastball which topped out at 96.9 mph and averaged 95.9 mph overall. Outside the four-seam fastball, which he threw 55%. He blended in a cutter 36% of the time and threw only two off-speed pitches, a curveball. In all, Allan induced seven swing and misses.

It was an overall very encouraging first outing for the once highly-thought of prospect. As the season goes on, health permitting, with consecutive strong performances, you should see a quick rise through the system given his age. Given all he’s been through, it’s terrific to see Allan back and healthy.

The post Matt Allan Makes First Game Appearance Since 2019 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

B/T: L/R      Age: 22 (03/13/02)
Ht: 6’4″        Weight: 210 lbs
Acquired: Selected in the sixth round by the Mets in the 2023 MLB Amateur Draft.
ETA: 2026   Previous Rank: Unranked
2024 Stats: 115 IP, 25 G (19 GS), 4.30 ERA, 1.278 WHIP, 140 SO, 40 BB – Single-A (15 games), High-A (10 games)

Overview

Right-handed pitcher Jack Wenninger has been within the New York Mets’ system since being drafted in 2023 out of the University of Illinois. Before Illinois, Wenninger began his collegiate career at Murray State in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC).

While at Murray State, he posted a 5.26 ERA across 51 1/3 innings striking out 42 and walking 27 as a freshman, getting named to the All-OVC Freshman Team. Wenninger then transferred to the Big 10 and Illinois where he posted a 5.71 ERA across 34 2/3 innings. Then, the following year, he improved on his numbers putting forth a career-best 4.59 ERA across 80 1/3 innings striking out 76 and walking 28. He started 14 of his 15 appearances.

As a result of those appearances the Barrington, Illinois native was drafted by the Mets in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Amateur Draft. He signed for slightly below slot at $225,000. The now 22-year-old endured his first full professional season in 2024, posting so-so numbers overall.

He began the season with the St. Lucie Mets in Single-A, struggling for the most part, owning a 5.02 ERA across 71 2/3 innings. He stared 10 of the 15 games he appeared in, striking out 89 with 23 walks. Despite the, on paper, ugly ERA, the metrics painted Wenninger as a much better pitcher, crediting him with a 3.97 FIP and 3.02 xFIP while with St. Lucie.

In July, Wenninger was called up to High-A Brooklyn where he spent the remainder of the season. The traditional numbers improved tenfold from St. Lucie, as he posted a 3.12 ERA across 43 1/3 innings. The strikeout rate was still good, as he punched out 51, but he did see his walk rate elevate from the Single-A level to 3.53 (BB/9). However, what may have been the biggest difference was his home run rate, which dropped from 1.26 HR/9 to just 0.21 with Brooklyn. As far as the underlying metrics, once again, with Brooklyn, they were very strong; FIP of 2.89 and xFIP of 3.76.

Statistics and his journey thus far aside, Wenninger’s repertoire features a fastball, changeup, slider, and curveball. His best pitch is said to be his changeup, which is complimented by a low-to-mid 90 mph fastball. His large 6-foot-4 frame allows him to get great extension off the mound, helping that fastball look faster than it actually is. His diverse cupboard of pitches has helped him succeed as a starting pitcher thus far throughout his short professional career.

2025 Outlook

Given Wenninger only made nine starts for High-A Brooklyn in 2024, he may get a few starts at that level in 2025 before promotion. If not, it is entirely possible he begins the season in Double-A Binghamton. If all goes well in Binghamton, Wenninger may find himself at the Triple-A level. This would put him on pace for a major-league appearance sometime in 2026, of course, if his develop continues to progress at the rate it has.

Previous Rankings

• No. 30 – Will Warren
• Preview

The post Mets 2025 Prospects: No. 29: Jack Wenninger appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Nate Dohm, photo via Mississippi State Athletics

3 to the Dohm

The Mets started Day 2 by adding Mississippi State right-hander Nate Dohm in Round 3 (slot value $934,000). Dohm is an intriguing add because of his ability to light up the radar gun and throw four pitches for strikes since transferring to Mississippi State in 2023. (He started his collegiate career at Ball State.)

Here is the latest on Dohm from MLB Pipeline:

“A healthy Dohm carves up hitters with a fastball that averages 94 mph and touches 97 with explosive carry up in the strike zone. He can miss bats with both of his breaking balls, getting a lot of empty swings with his mid-80s slider and a ton of chases with his deeper 79-82 mph curveball. He lacks feel for a too-firm changeup in the upper 80s, though it flashes some promising fade.”

This past year, Dohm went 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA in eight games (six starts). He showed excellent command as he had just four walks in 29.1 innings of work (37 strikeouts). The question with Dohm is going to be his health. He had a forearm strain back in April, which is the second one he has had in his collegiate career.

Dohm did go from the bullpen to the rotation to begin the 2024 season, so it will be interesting to see what role the Mets have for him. With his ability to miss bats, he could be a mid-rotation starter or a multi-inning reliever that have become very valuable in today’s game.

Power Potential

The Mets went for their second outfielder of the class in Round 4 when they took a left-handed bat in Eli Serrano III out of NC State ($656,400). Serrano III will have a familiar face in the Mets organization as he was teammates with current Binghamton Rumble Pony Ryan Clifford in high school.

Back in January, Prospects Live talked about Serrano’s ability to show good plate discipline. He drew 60 walks at NC State over the last two years (114 games).

“He runs a solid contact rate from the left side and draws a plentiful amount of walks, showcasing solid feel to spray the ball to all fields,” Prospects Live said. “His power potential is outrageous with his potent bat speed and highly projectable frame, mashing the ball up the middle and to the pull-side. ”

This year, Serrano made the switch from first base to the outfield for the Wolfpack on their way to a berth in the College World Series. He comes from a professional baseball family—his father Sammy was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco Giants in 1998.

The Lone Prep Pick

New York’s lone prep pick of the first two days came in the fifth round when they took shortstop Trey Snyder, a right-handed hitter from Liberty North High School in Missouri. Snyder is committed to Tennessee at the moment. According to Perfect Game Baseball, Snyder has a good swing and he is a player that has a lot of upside as he continues to develop.

“Big and strong athletic build. Right-handed hitter, has a simple load and trigger and an easy rhythm to his swing, sinks into his back hip well, effortless swing mechanics that result in big bat speed, more a line drive swing plane at present with big bat speed and consistent 100+ exit velos, high ceiling offensive talent.”

Snyder had a strong 2024 season, which led him to being named the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in Missouri. As Prep Baseball Report points out, he ended up performing very well against some of the top competition in the state. If he decides to go to the Mets, it will be fun to watch his offense develop if he is hitting the ball this well at just 18 years old.

Given his commitment to Tennessee, the Mets will likely have to far exceed his slot value of $476,200 to get him to sign.

HBP Anyone?

When people talked about the Georgia baseball program in 2024, a lot of talk was around Charlie Condon, who ended up going 3rd overall to the Colorado Rockies. The Mets grabbed his teammate in Round 6 by taking left-handed hitting first baseman Corey Collins ($363,100 slot value).

In a tough SEC conference, Collins was one of the best hitters in the country at getting on-base (.574 on-base percentage in 52 games). He had a slash line of .345/.574/.772 with 20 home runs, 58 RBIs, and a 1.346 OPS. Even though he just started learning first base this year, his power is the story.

“Collins still focuses almost exclusively on launching balls to his pull side, but his shorter stroke has enabled him to make more consistent hard contact and get the most out of his plus raw power. … He’s also no longer helpless against breaking balls and changeups. He works deep counts and excels at getting on base via walks and being hit by pitches.” (MLB Pipeline).

Back in March, Collins showed off the power when he hit three home runs in Georgia’s 18-6 win over Wofford. On the afternoon, he went 4-for-5 and drove in eight runs.

The Mets should be able to save some slot money on Collins given he’s a fourth-year senior. He was also hit by 28 pitches this year!!!

Righties on Righties

For the final four picks of Day 2, the Mets stayed exclusively with right-handed pitching to build up some of their depth. In Round 7, New York selected Will Watson out of USC ($283,800 slot value). Watson was selected in the 20th Round by the Seattle Mariners in 2023 when he was at San Joaquin Delta College in California, but he elected to go to USC.

With the Trojans, Watson went 5-2 with a 3.93 ERA in 16 games (nine starts). He had 46 strikeouts to 27 walks over 50.1 innings of work. One of his better games of the season came in the Pac-12 Tournament against Oregon when he had seven strikeouts and allowed just one run over six innings of work. As Taylor Blake Ward pointed out on X, his arsenal of pitches may make him more suited for a reliever role down the road.

Mets 7-203: Will Watson, RHP, USC — smaller/athletic swing arm, mid 90s FB/SK, sweepy SL/hard CV blend, firm active CH flashes, fringe/avg control w/ mostly relief projection w/ athletic markers to chance starter dev

— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) July 15, 2024

If you like velocity, then the Mets’ eighth-round pick ($226,000) might be the player you watch. Ryan Lambert had just one year at the University of Oklahoma (transferred from Missouri State), but he was able to get the fastball velocity up to 102 miles per hour along with a power cutter and a curveball.

Lambert did battle some command issues in college (12 walks in 23 games). With that being said, in a small sample size in the MLB Draft League this summer, he had no walks to go with 10 strikeouts in 6 innings of work.

In Round 9, the Mets went with Houston right-hander Jaxon Jelkin ($196,700 slot value). Like Watson, Jelkin was drafted in 2023 (14th Round by the Dodgers), but he elected to go to Houston after playing college baseball at Nebraska in 2022 and then at South Mountain Community College in ’23.

Jelkin ended up being Houston’s Opening Day starter this year, and he had a 4.19 ERA in seven starts. Despite the small sample size in terms of outings, he put up strikeouts at a good rate (46 in 34.1 innings) and he had at least six strikeouts in five of those starts.

Jelkin has a fastball that can get up to 97 miles per hour to go with a slider and a changeup in his arsenal. As Future Stars Series points out, Jelkin gets a good amount of spin on his offspeed pitches that made him one of the best pitchers in the conference.

“His secondaries include a low-80s slider/curveball whose shapes and velocities tend to blend together. Nevertheless, they’re both of the high-spin variety and he throws both with conviction. He also throws a changeup with massive fading life, projecting above-average…It’s a balanced profile suggesting a reliable floor to go with some upside.”

For their last pick of Day 2, the Mets went with Oklahoma right-hander Brendan Girton in Round 10 ($184,300 slot value). Girton was an in-conference transfer as he went to the Sooners from Texas Tech. He showed a good strikeout total in 2024 (11.9 strikeouts per 9 innings), but his problem was the walks (31 in 35.2 innings to go with 9 hit-by-pitches).

Girton is another pitcher that will be mainly a reliever, but if he can figure out the command, he has the pitches to be successful.

The MLB Draft concludes on Tuesday with Rounds 11-20 beginning at 2 p.m.

The post 2024 MLB Draft Day 2 Recap: Mets Stack Power Arms appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Today is the big day. Not only will several lives change, but the trajectory of some teams can as well. The MLB Draft is officially upon us.

Day one of the draft is tonight, beginning at 7:00 pm ET, and is compromised of the first two rounds. Meanwhile, day two (rounds 3-10) and day three (rounds 11-20) will follow in the coming days. Day one can be viewed on both ESPN and MLB Network, while the following days can streamed via MLB.com.

The Mets biggest pick will be at 19th overall. It’ll be the first Mets draft under President of Baseball Operations David Stearns and VP of Amateur Scouting Kris Gross. The team will have the 20th-largest bonus pool available: $9,572,200.

Kaelen Culpepper. (photo credits: K-State Athletics)

Mets Day 1 Picks

First Round: 19th overall ($4,219,200)

The Mets saw their first round pick drop 10 spots due to the competitive balance tax penalty. They were originally slated to select ninth overall. The San Diego Padres and New York Yankees also saw their selections drop.

Second Round: 46th overall ($2,031,700)

Other Notable Picks

Third Round: 82nd overall ($934,800)

Fourth Round: 111th overall ($656,400)

Fifth Round: 144th overall ($476,200)

Sixth Round: 173rd overall ($363,100)

Seventh Round: 203rd overall ($283,800)

Eighth Round: 233rd overall ($226,000)

Ninth Round: 263rd overall ($196,700)

10th Round: 293rd overall ($184,300)

Potential First Round Targets

With selection No. 19 in the first round, below are some of the prospects that have been mocked to the Mets in recent days:

• OF Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina
• SS Kaelen Culpepper, Kansas State
• OF Carson Benge, Oklahoma State
• OF Slade Caldwell, Valley View HS (AR)

Draft Order

1. Cleveland Guardians
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. Colorado Rockies
4. Oakland Athletics
5. Chicago White Sox
6. Kansas City Royals
7. St. Louis Cardinals
8. Los Angeles Angels
9. Pittsburgh Pirates
10. Washington Nationals

The remaining order of picks can be found here.

MMO Draft Content

Below are links to our two main articles analyzing Sunday’s draft:

• Draft Preview
• What The Mocks Are Saying

The post MMO MLB Draft Thread, 7:00 P.M. appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets are said by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel to be considering “explosively athletic types” with their first selection, and there are several prospects in the 2024 class that fit that description. Let us take a look at recent notable mock drafts, and where they see the Mets going in president of baseball operations David Stearns and scouting director Kris Gross’ first year at the helm.

Note, our full draft preview article can be read here.

Carson Benge. Photo by The Oklahoman

The Athletic 

The Pick: RHP/OF Carson Benge, Oklahoma State
ESPN Rank: 18
The Athletic Rank: 18
MLB Pipeline Rank: 18

Carson Benge, the seemingly consensus 18th-ranked prospect in this year’s draft, was mocked by Keith Law and The Athletic to the Mets at 19th overall. Benge was one of the nation’s most notable two-way player this year, and would be the second Oklahoma State Cowboy two-way player drafted by the Mets in as many years, joining 2023 third-round selection Nolan McLean.

Benge, 21, dominated from both sides of the plate this year for the Cowboys. In 61 games, he posted a .335/.444/.665 slash line with 18 homers and 24 doubles. One of Benge’s best tools is his lack of strikeouts, as he struck out just 51 times in 2024, compared to 49 walks. His strong eye and lack of strikeouts strike as skills that will immediately translate to the professional game. The right-handed hitter isn’t the most imposing figure, standing in at only six-foot-one, but still has room to grow into his frame, as he is listed at just 185 pounds.

On the mound, Benge mainly came out of the bullpen, posting a 3.16 ERA over 18 appearances, four of which were starts. Over 37 innings, he struck out 44, walked just 11, and allowed only four home runs. His fastball is lively, and can reach the upper-90 mph range. He has a solid duo of a slider and changeup to compliment the fastball, and he has solid command for his pitches.

Despite this, Benge is said to prefer hitting much more to pitching, and there is some questions as to whether or not he will want to continue pitching in the professionals. However, even just as a bat, Benge is an intriguing prospect and worthy of a first round selection. He fits the McDaniel assertion of an explosive athlete.

ESPN

The Pick: OF Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina
ESPN Rank: 25
The Athletic Rank: 41
MLB Pipeline Rank: 22

Vance Honeycutt is one of the more polarizing figures in this year’s draft. The former Tar Heel posted an astounding 1.124 OPS for his junior year, a season in which he clubbed 28 homers, 43 total extra base hits, and stole 28 bases. Overall, he posted a slash line of .318/.410/.714 over 302 plate appearances across 62 games.

Honeycutt, as his rankings show, has the consensus all over the place. He brings great power, great speed, a great arm, a great glove, but there is tons of concern regarding his hit tool. There is concern that Honeycutt will not hit for much average at all given the major swing-and-miss issues. He possesses multiple 60-grade tools, but if his hit tool falls through, which some consider to be as low as 40, then Honeycutt might not reach his full potential.

If all breaks right for the 21-year old, he will end up a strong fielding center fielder, crush over 30 homers, and steal 30-plus bags a season. The best scenario for Honeycutt would make him one of the game’s best. However, if the hit tool can’t develop, he is a power threat outfielder with a strong arm that can steal bases. This could be a useful player, but might not be worth the 19th-overall selection.

Honeycutt’s biggest weakness will pose an interesting task for the Mets. The organization hasn’t developed as many hitting prospects with weak hit tools as other organizations, and considering that he is already 21, they won’t exactly have as much time as they would have had with a prep prospect. Vance Honeycutt would be a test of the Mets’ revamped player development team, but he could be worth the risk.

Kaelen Culpepper. (photo credits: K-State Athletics)

Baseball America

The Pick: SS Kaelen Culpepper, Kansas State
ESPN Rank: 28
The Athletic Rank: 30
MLB Pipeline Rank: 31

Kaelen Culpepper is one of the safer prospects in the draft, and would be a solid selection for the Mets. The former Wildcat posted a .993 OPS with 11 homers, 15 doubles, and six triples in his junior season. Culpepper was a three-year starter for the Wildcats in the Big 12, and was the biggest bright spot on one of the conference’s worst offenses. His strength came in his on base ability, posting a .402 career OBP over his collegiate years.

Culpepper isn’t a smaller shortstop, standing in at six-foot and 185 pounds, a solid frame for an infielder. Evaluators believe that Culpepper has a solid chance to stick at shortstop long-term, and could even become a glove-first player. However, if he were not to last as a shortstop, he would then likely become a strong second or third baseman. His arm is considered to be fairly strong, which could point to a future at third base if he doesn’t remain at short. Culpepper has already made the move, but in reverse. Initially a third baseman, he made the rare jump over to short, but found much success there on the Wildcat infield.

Culpepper, unlike the aforementioned Honeycutt, possesses a fairly safe hit tool, decent power, and a strong eye. In the 2024 NCAA College Baseball Playoff, Culpepper hit .474 for the Wildcats as they went on a strong playoff run. Culpepper’s playoff excellence was highlighted by a cycle against Louisiana Tech, the first of his collegiate career.

Kaelen Culpepper has the chance to become the first first-round pick in Kansas State baseball history, and very well could do so with some help from the New York Mets. He fits the athletic mold that the Mets are said to be looking for, but his lack of future power could severely limit his game, especially if he were to move to third base and need to produce more power. He is a safe pick and will be one of the Mets’ better prospects almost immediately, but his ceiling could be severely limited if he can’t grow into and develop more power as he goes through the system.

MLB Pipeline

The Picks: OF Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina (Jim Callis), OF Slade Caldwell, Valley View HS, Jonesboro, Ark. (Jonathan Mayo)
ESPN Rank: 25/41
The Athletic Rank: 41/12
MLB Pipeline Rank: 22/27

As analyzed above, Vance Honeycutt was a dynamic player for North Carolina, however, certainly comes with his blemishes. He would provide huge upside but a considerable amount of risk as well.

As for the only High Schooler on this list, Slade Caldwell was named the top high school player in Arkansas as a junior in 2023. MLB Pipeline assigns him with slightly above average hit tool and strong fielding and running projections. He is a smaller player, listed at five-foot-nine and his style has directly garnered comparisons to current top Mets prospect Jett Williams.

As for his approach at the plate, Caldwell fits what is reportedly the type of player David Stearns and VP of Amateur Scouting Kris Gross like to target. He is a line-drive hitter that is reportedly already quite advanced for his age. He is not expected to hit for much power, as evident by a 45-power grade.

Caldwell is currently committed to play at Mississippi.

The post What The Mock Draft Are Saying The Mets Will Do At No. 19 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The first round will begin at 7 pm ET on Sunday televised on ESPN. Day 2, which includes rounds 3-10, and Day 3, which includes rounds 11-20, will begin at 2 pm ET and can be viewed on MLB.com.

Last year, the Mets selected high school shortstop Colin Houck at No. 32 overall and college pitcher Brandon Sproat at No. 56 overall on Day 1. Houck has struggled at Single-A to begin his professional career, but Sproat has skyrocketed all the way up to Double-A in his first season and onto some MLB Top 100 prospect lists.

It has been reported that the Mets are going to shift their draft philosophy this season with Stearns and new VP of amateur scouting Kris Gross at the helm. Gross spent years in a prominent role with the Houston Astros, having his hand in the drafting of players like Jeremy Peña, Korey Lee, Hunter Brown, Drew Gilbert, and others. The new philosophy, as Will Sammon of The Athletic reported, is to draft “explosive athletes with big tools and pitchers with electric raw stuff.”

Carson Benge. Photo by The Oklahoman

This year, the Mets will pick No. 19 after falling to No. 9 in the lottery and being docked ten spots due to CBT penalties, along with the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees. The Mets pick at No. 46 in the second round, No. 82 in the third round, No. 111 in the fourth round, and No. 144 in the fifth round. No picks were docked any spots besides the first-round selection.

When it comes to the first-round pick, there’s no clear favorite. Most people expect the Mets to go with a college bat, and Joe DeMayo of SNY said he’s pretty confident that’s the route they’ll take.

Note, for what the most recent mock drafts are saying, read our articles linked here.

The leading candidate is probably Carson Benge, an outfielder out of Oklahoma State. The Athletic mocked Benge to the Mets a couple of weeks ago, and Fangraphs mocked Benge to the Mets this week. Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs also noted that David Stearns would tend to draft high-contact players like Benge when he was in Milwaukee.

Benge, 21, slashed .335/.444/.665 this season for the Cowboys with 18 home runs in 61 games. His 1.109 OPS was third in the Big 12. MLB Pipeline, which has him as the No. 18 prospect in the draft, gives him above-average grades on the 20-80 scale almost across the board. The only tool below 55 is run, and it’s still 50.

Seaver King, a defensively versatile player from Wake Forest,  is another option that’s been floated. Baseball America mocked King to the Mets at the start of the month but made note that he might not make it to the Mets pick. He probably has limited power potential (even if he did hit 16 home runs this season), but King is viewed as one of the better contact bats in the draft. King slashed .308/.377/.577 this year and struck out just 34 times in 284 plate appearances.

However, in Baseball America’s most recent mock draft which was released just Friday, the Mets take a different college bat even with King still on the board. Instead, the mock has the Mets taking Kaelen Culpepper, a shortstop out of Kansas State. Similar to King, Culpepper probably has below-average power with an above-average hit tool. Culpepper slashed .328/.419/.574 this season for the Wildcats with 11 home runs and 41 strikeouts in 291 plate appearances. Benge was already off the board in this mock.

Vance Honeycutt. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Vance Honeycutt is a name that has been floated to the Mets over the last couple of months, getting mocked to Queens by both ESPN and MLB Pipeline on Friday. One of the more polarizing prospects in the draft, Honeycutt is a legitimate power-speed threat with a great glove but a lot of swing-and-miss. He hit 28 home runs and stole 28 bases for North Carolina this season while also striking out 83 times; a 27.5% strikeout rate. The rate is so high for college that it’s led to Honeycutt falling in the latter half of draft, despite his gold glove caliber defense and tantalizing power.

Other college bats who have been brought up as options for the Mets include Tommy White, Dakota Jordan, and Billy Amick. 

White, also known as “Tommy Tanks,” is one of the better-known players in the draft after breaking onto the scene last college baseball season. Now that he’s draft-eligible, White is projected to be a mid-to-late first-round pick. A power-hitting corner infielder, White hit at least 24 home runs each of his three college seasons but is coming off what is technically considered a down year, putting up “just” a 1.039 OPS.

Jordan is a bit like Honeycutt, possessing some of the best power in this draft class with a questionable hit tool and strikeout rate nearing 30%. Jordan hit .354 with a 1.129 OPS and 20 home runs this season for Mississippi State. He only stole three bases, but MLB Pipeline still has him as a 60-grade runner. Amick, a third baseman, is a more balanced hitter than Jordan and Honeycutt, striking out far less. He hit .306 with a 1.026 OPS and 23 home runs this season for Tennessee.

If the Mets don’t go the college bat route, there are a couple of high school bats who have been brought up as options. MLB Pipeline mocked outfielder Slade Caldwell to the Mets last week, who has drawn comparisons to current Mets prospect Jett Williams. Like Williams, Caldwell is under five-foot-10 but has some exciting tools if teams can look past his height. The Mets took Williams in the first round a few years ago, so it would make sense they could do it again.

Tyson Lewis, a shortstop from Tennessee, has been brought up as an option. Lewis has average or above-average grades across the board on MLB Pipeline. The same almost goes for Theo Gillen, who is average or above average everywhere except arm strength. His bat is where he shines with a 60-grade hit tool and 55-grade power tool, and he’s a 60-graded runner to boot.

If the Mets do go with an arm, which seems unlikely at this point, Brody Brecht could be an option. Brecht was mocked by the Mets by ESPN a few weeks ago. An athletic, hard-throwing pitcher from the University of Iowa, Brecht could be a good fit in what has become a bit of a pitching factory for the Mets.

The post Previewing Sunday’s MLB Draft; What Will The Mets Do? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Matt Mancuso joins the show to discuss all things MLB draft ahead of the big day on Sunday.

What should we expect from David Stearn’s first draft running the show for the Mets at pick #19? For Matt, expect the Amazins’ to draft a more polished collegiate bat over a potential high school arm or position player:

“The main prospect pundits online have all done these mock-ups in the last 24 hours and all have the Mets selecting a college bat.”

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The post MMO Weekly Episode 87: MLB Draft Featuring Matt Mancuso appeared first on Metsmerized Online.