New York Mets Draft Preview Part 1: The Hitters
The MLB draft can be unpredictable. At the top, the best prospects are usually are drafted in order of their talent. But, teams have other concerns besides drafting the best talent available
First, there is a concern that permeates every type of draft for every team. Teams draft for their needs, although in baseball this is a less prevalent concern than in other sports.
Second, and most peculiar to baseball, is the issue of signability. Players have options in baseball--- they can to college; they can remain in college, or they can go play in the independent league and wait until next year's draft. If they do not get the money they want from the team that drafts them, they can pursue their options.
My following list of potential Mets draft picks this year tries to take both these factors into account.
This first part will preview five position players that the Mets may go after. Keep an eye out for the second part of the Mets draft preview this week, which will highlight five pitchers the Mets may take in the first round.
George Springer: Outfielder, University of Connecticut
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Springer heads a group of three college prospects that would fit nicely with the Mets.
The Mets lack outfield prospects. It is probably the weakest part of their minor league system. Fernando Martinez has been a disappointment so far, although he is young. But, he has never shown the on-base potential that Sandy Alderson covets.
Cory Vaughn, last year's fourth-round pick, has been a pleasant surprise. But, he is far from a sure thing. He tore up short-season A ball last year, and has looked good in A Advanced this year at Savannah. However, Vaughn is a 22-year-old college hitter and he should be excelling in A ball.
George Springer is the rare college outfielder who has the tools of a top high school prospect. He has been extremely successful at the University of Connecticut, but like a high school prospect, he needs to be coached. He has shown the ability to take pitches and work the count, although he is not exactly the next Kevin Youkilis.
There's two "ifs" here. First, if George Springer is available at the 13th pick and second, if Sandy Alderson believes he can be coached up, it is very likely that the Mets will select him with this pick. He would immediately become the Mets' top outfield prospect.
Mikie Mahtook: Outfielder, LSU
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Mahtook has been one of the sole bright spots for LSU baseball this year. He would be picked higher than expected if the Mets draft him. Therefore, he would cost the Mets less than other prospects at this point in the draft.
Mahtook would provide a relatively instant impact, in comparison to the Mets' other options. He comes with a solid bat. He will not provide an awesome amount of power, but he will provide enough to go along with a solid hitting approach that will lend itself to contact and quality gap hitting.
Also, Mahtook's speed and defense are a perfect fit for the Mets, who have to start evaluating what kind of team needs to be built to win in Citi Field. Speed and defense seem to be at the forefront of those needs.
See Nicholas Pugliese's report on Mahtook for more information.
Levi Michael: Shortstop, UNC
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Levi Michael is projected to go later in Round 1 of the draft, much after the Mets have picked. With that said, Michael may be a sleeper here. Like Mahtook, the Mets could probably save money by picking Michael with the 13th pick.
Micahel is a "safe-bet" kind of pick, to the extent they exist in baseball. He is an experienced college shortstop who is considered to have a low ceiling and low floor. In other words, Michael is seen as someone who you know what you are getting with the pick.
Drafting Michael would signal what many think already is inevitable, which is that the Mets will depart with Jose Reyes, whether during this year or in the offseason. At the same time, some suggest he may need to move to second base, which is another position the Mets lack in at the majors and the minors.
Michael would be a sleeper, and a long-shot compared to others on this list, but his low-risk status and preparedness for the big leagues at a position the team will need to fill may be attractive to the Mets.
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Brandon Nimmo: Outfielder, Cheyenne East H.S., Wyoming
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Nimmo is an interesting prospect, if not just for the fact he's from Wyoming. There's rarely any baseball talent coming out of the mountain states. In fact, Wyoming, along with Montana and South Dakota, do not even have high school baseball programs.
While his hailing from a baseball dead-zone makes him intriguing, it also makes him mysterious. Scouts have mostly seen Nimmo perform in showcases, and most notably, in last year's Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field.
We'll have to see if Sandy Alderson thinks Nimmo is worth the risk at this point in the draft and in the initial stages of the Mets' development. I can't lie—for me the intrigue trumps the mysteriousness. I would not be disappointed with the pick at all. Matter of fact, I would like to see it happen.
Nimmo is projected to go in the late first round, well after the Mets pick.
Francisco Lindor: Shortstop, Montverde Academy, Florida
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Lindor has been projected to be a top-10 pick by many. However, it is possible that he will fall to the Mets with the 13th pick. Lindor provides a more then solid glove and the tools to hit enough at the shortstop position.
Like Mahtook, he provides two skills the Mets are looking for: speed and defense. The front office's evaluation of his hitting ability will be the key here. Reports praise his plate discipline and pitch selection, something Alderson must appreciate.
Some have said that he should grow into a hitter who can hit 12-20 home runs a year. However, his gap hitting potential should be more important. It is likely that whatever home run power he does develop will eventually be drained, at least to an extent, by Citi Field if he is drafted by the Mets.
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