Carlos Cortes, 20th Round
We are going to start a new thread for picks 21-30 as the day 3 of the draft continues. The Mets finally tapped into the high school ranks in rounds 11-20 with the first two picks being prep righties Cameron Planck and Matthew Cleveland.
Another name to keep an eye on is the Mets 20th round pick Carlos Cortes who can flat out hit and throws with both arms. However, he has committed to South Carolina and could be a tough sign, he was ranked #128 coming into the draft by Baseball America.
Here are some links for previous coverage:
The Mets next pick comes in the 21st round and is the 640th pick overall.
Pick: Round 21, Pick 640
Name: Maxwell Kuhns School: Santa Clara U Position: RHP
Bat/Throws: R/R Height: 6’3″ Weight: 210
Scouting Report:
Nope, Nothing there.
Pick: Round 22, Pick 670 Overall
Name: Ian Strom School: U Masschusetts Lowell Position: CF
Bat/Throws: R/L Height: 6’2″ Weight: 200
Scouting Report:
1. Ian Strom, of, Worcester (Jr., Massachusetts-Lowell)
Strom wasn’t just clearly the best defensive outfielder in the Futures League this summer—some coaches contended that Strom was one of the best defensive outfielders they have ever seen. A 6.6 runner with a long, athletic, 6-foot-2 and 180-pound frame, Strom has plus speed and above-average arm strength, but it’s his instincts and routes to the ball that help set him apart. Strom slashed .353/.419/.449 with the Bravehearts this summer and also stole 18 bases, so he is a dangerous hitter. But his funky swing drew comparisons to Hunter Pence and while coaches appreciated his compact swing and his ability to spray the ball to all fields, they also noted that he lacked even true gap-to-gap power and could be beat by plus velocity.
Nick Sergakis, 3b, Ohio State – Sergakis’ stature (5-foot-8, 185-pound) works against his pro prospects, but the transfer from Coastal Carolina can hit (.332/.451/.542) and he’s solid defensively at third base making him an interesting senior sign.
Pick: Round 23, Pick 700 Overall
Name: Nicholas Sergakis School: Ohio State University, 5th Year Senior
Position: 2B Bat/Throws: R/R Height: 5’8″ Weight: 175 LBS
Scouting Report:
On top of the power explosion, his K:BB ratio went from 2.44 to .62, so, basically, he completely flipped his numbers while his power has gone up. I have heard little to no talk around Sergakis but, with the performance this year, I think he should be a preferred senior target. His bat has shown major growth in all areas, which goes with his already solid infield defense.
BA
Nick Sergakis, 3b, Ohio State – Sergakis’ stature (5-foot-8, 185-pound) works against his pro prospects, but the transfer from Coastal Carolina can hit (.332/.451/.542) and he’s solid defensively at third base making him an interesting senior sign.
Pick: Round 24, Pick 730 Overall
Name: Dariel Rivera
School: Dr. Juan J. Osuna Position: RHP Bat/Throws: R/R
Height: 6’3″ Weight: 160
Scouting Report:
Perfect Game
Dariel Rivera is a 2016 RHP with a 6-3 160 lb. frame from Caguas, PR who attends Dr. Juan J Osuna. Extremely projectable young pitcher’s build, slender hips with lots of room to fill out and get stronger. Loose whippy arm action, pause at the top of his delivery to let arm catch up, delivery is very well sequenced and works, high 3/4’s arm slot, powers downhill very well with all his pitches. Fastball topped out at 90 mph, lived in the upper 80’s for four innings, outstanding fastball life at times, was still hitting 90 in the third inning, lots more velocity in there with additional strength. Curveball not consistent but flashed plus spin and bite at times, morphed into a sweeping slider at times. As projectable a young pitcher as one will see, was topping out at 81 at this event last year, compares with the top Puerto Rican pitching prospects of the last decade.
Pick: Round 25, Pick 760 Overall
Name: Cody Beckman
School: North Carolina State, Junior Position: LHP Bat/Throws: L/L
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 190 lbs
Scouting Report:
Pick: Round 26, Pick 790 Overall
Name: Rylan Thomas
School: Windemere Prep School (FL) Position: 3B Bat/Throws: R/R
Height: 6’0″ Weight: 225
Scouting Report:
“I hit 20, and I figured I’d try something different,” Thomas said. “I smoked it, though.”
Thomas’ performance wasn’t just a victory — it was a clinic in power hitting. He eked out a first-round win against Saint Stephen’s Jake Westberry with three measly home runs, then coasted through the semifinals with nine blasts to breeze past Out-of-Door Academy’s Austin Hoppe.
Rylan Thomas is a 2016 3B/RHP with a 6-0 225 lb. frame from Winter Garden, FL who attends Windermere Prep. Has strong athletic build with present strength in body. Hits from a square stance with a wide base. Short swing with quick hands. Gets barrel to ball and gets extended to contact. Balanced approach, found barrel consistently. Has present strength in swing and ball carried well and flashed plus pull power potential. Defensively, primary 3B, Good agility on infield with plus arm strength across diamond, arm works. Also pitched, fastball in the low 90’s topping at 92, has coiled delivery with a very quick arm. 3 pitch mix, with curveball and slider. Uses whole body to throw and flashed plus potential on 12/6 curveball with solid feel. Slider has good tilt and is sharp. Fastball had good life down in zone. Flashed tools to be two way prospect. Good Student. Verbally Committed to UCF
Pick: Round 27, Pick 820 Overall
Name: Joel Urena
School: Georgio Luperon HS for Math & Science (16 Years Old)
Position: LHP Bat/Throws: L/L Height: 6’5″ Weight: 235
Scouting Report:
Gregorio Luperon pitcher Joel Urena selected by the @Mets in the 27th round- MLB draft. I've seen 6-5, 235 pd lefty and he has promise.
— Elio Velez (@eliovelez) June 11, 2016
Pick: Round 28, Pick 850 Overall
Name: William Sierra
School: Edouad Montpetit HS (16 Years Old) Position: RHP
Bat/Throws: R/R Height: 6’1″ Weight: 150
Scouting Report:
William Sierra (Montreal, Quebec) was the tough-luck loser on Friday, allowing just one run in five innings with five strikeouts. That followed the Canadian Junior National Team hurler’s three-inning appearance on Wednesday, when he allowed one run on no hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
“Will pitched great,” Quebec coach and former major leaguer Denis Boucher said. “Today he may have been a little better than his first outing. I think he might not have pitched in a little while, so the first outing his breaking ball and command weren’t as sharp, but today he was a little better.
“We had our chances and we didn’t take advantage of them. We had runners on second and third with one out and we didn’t make contact, so that’s the game right there with the 1-0 score. (Demchenko) pitched a great game and he fought his way through there and never gave up. He had good fastball command, and when he was in trouble he threw that fastball away and our guys couldn’t adjust.”
Pick: Round 29, Pick 880 Overall
Name: Alex Haynes
School: Central HS (TN) Position: RHP Bat/Throws: R/R
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 190
Scouting Report:
James (Alex) Haynes is a 2016 RHP/3B with a 6-3 185 lb. frame from Knoxville, TN who attends Central HS. Large athletic build, plenty of room to get stronger, projects well physically. Good athlete who fields his position well, has a loose, whippy arm, 3/4’s arm slot with some downward plane, works from the stretch, quick arm and uses his core and lower half well to create power. Fastball up to 91 mph, keeps the ball low in the zone well, can ride it above hitter’s hands as well, gets lots of fastball life, ball gets on hitters quickly. Nice change up with solid arm speed and deception. Tends to get around his slider for more of a sweeping break, breaks early. Has energy to his delivery and the mechanics are difficult to repeat at present, simplifying and repeating will be key to his taking the next step. Good student, verbal commitment to Walters State CC.
Pick: Round 30, Pick 910 Overall
Name: Eric Villanueva School: Josefina Barcelo HS Position: RHP
Bat/Throws: R/R Height: 6’1″ Weight: 180
Scouting Report:
First pick is Max Kuhns, closer from Santa Clara.
Adios Familia.
ID
Rylan Thomas Seems pretty interesting. Hopefully we can sign him.
Love it. Two Puerto Ricans drafted in final rounds. What’s the scouting on Eric Villanueva?
Rylan Thomas, future 3bman? Sounds like a great pick.
Unsure, I tried my best to find something on him, but he wasn’t known. Carlos Cortes was drafted earlier but I doubt he’ll be signed since he wasn’t drafted in the rounds he wanted to be.
Round won’t matter. $$$$ will.