The New York Mets are making a concerted effort to address their long-standing issue of developing pitchers in their farm system. Mets owner Steve Cohen has emphasized the importance of building up the team’s farm system and specifically developing pitching talent. In an effort to rectify this problem, the Mets have opened a pitching lab and hired highly-regarded minor-league coaches. This week, they took another step towards addressing this issue with their draft selections.
Out of the Mets’ 23 selections in this year’s MLB Draft, 16 were pitchers. This represents the most pitchers the Mets have drafted since the draft format changed to 20 rounds in 2021. The team focused heavily on college arms, selecting pitchers who they believe have the potential to make an impact in the major leagues.
In addition to the pitchers, the Mets also selected three prep shortstops with their first three position player picks. The team targeted players who play premium positions that can impact the game in multiple ways, including at the plate, on the mound, on the basepaths, and in the field.
The Mets’ first pick in the draft was Colin Houck, a prep shortstop from Parkview High School in Georgia. The team believes that Houck has plus-athleticism and body awareness, and they plan to develop him as a shortstop. Despite concerns over his defense, the Mets are optimistic about his potential.
The Mets also selected two-way player Nolan McLean out of Oklahoma State with the 91st pick. McLean has shown impressive raw power as a hitter and has a fastball that sits around 95 mph as a pitcher. The Mets were intrigued by his ability to both hit and pitch and have allowed him to pursue being a two-way player. McLean will also serve as a designated hitter.
Among the pitchers selected by the Mets, Brandon Sproat stands out. Sproat has the ability to flash a 100 mph fastball and has shown improvement with his secondary pitches. The Mets also drafted Sproat in the third round of last year’s draft and liked how he developed over the past year.
Another pitcher to watch is Kade Morris, who had a high ERA in college but possesses impressive tools. The Mets believe that Morris will perform better in professional baseball, especially when pitching at sea level. They are excited about his athleticism, strong frame, and deep mix of pitches.
The Mets also looked for interesting traits in the pitchers they selected in later rounds. They focused on players who have shown potential throughout their careers and have traits that the player development staff can work with.
In addition to the pitchers, the Mets selected a non-pitcher position player in the ninth round. Nick Lorusso, a third baseman from the University of Maryland, set several single-season records for home runs, RBIs, and extra-base hits. The Mets are excited about his track record of hitting the ball hard and his power potential.
Overall, the Mets’ draft strategy focused heavily on addressing their pitching development issues. They selected a significant number of pitchers, including highly-regarded prospects, and also targeted players who play premium positions. The team believes that these selections will help them build a sustainable winner and develop a strong farm system for years to come.