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2017 New York Mets Draft Tracker

By Jacob Resnick

June 12, 2017 17 Comments

The following is a comprehensive list of the New York Mets’ selections in the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, coupled with pertinent information, and, eventually, a link to their MMN profiles. This page will be updated frequently, so be sure to refresh as the picks come in.

Follow MetsMerized’s coverage of the 2017 MLB Draft!

Round 1, Pick 20 – LHP David Peterson

Statistics – @_David_Peterson

Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 240 DOB: 9/3/1995 (21)

School: University of Oregon

Slot Value: $2,994,500

Notes: 

Baseball America #17 – Video

Peterson was a Top 100 prospect out of a Denver high school thanks to a projectable 6-foot-6 frame, ability to sink his fastball that reached 91 mph and flashes of above-average changeup and slider. A broken right fibula delayed the start of his prep senior season, and the 28th-round pick (Red Sox) didn’t sign, instead heading to Oregon. He proved durable in his first two seasons and pitched for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team last summer, but Peterson didn’t take off until 2017, when he hit it off with new pitching coach Jason Dietrich. Peterson was leading the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio in early May and had six double-digit strikeout games, including 17 against Mississippi State and 20 in late April against Arizona State.

Peterson has improved his fastball velocity (up to 94 mph early in games) and command this season. He pitches at around 91 mph. His quieter delivery features better direction to the plate this year and a bit more deception, eliciting swings-and-misses from his fastball. His slider earns plus grades from some scouts, and at times he’ll back-foot righthanded hitters with it all night until they adjust. Then he can locate an average curveball to mix things up, and scouts like his above-average changeup, though he doesn’t use it much. One Pac-12 coach called it his best pitch, with plus tumble and fade, and it allows Peterson to go arm-side with his fastball and change, then glove-side with the slider, slicing up the plate and flummoxing hitters. Peterson stays out of the middle of the plate, pitches with angle and gets groundballs when he isn’t striking out loads of hitters. He has solid athleticism that allows him to repeat his improved delivery, even as he’s filled out physically from 213 pounds as a prep senior to a listed 235 at Oregon. Peterson had pitched his way into the first round.

MLB Pipeline #19 – Video

When Peterson was coming out of the Colorado high school ranks in 2014, he was a raw, projectable left-hander with arm strength, but with undeveloped secondary stuff and fringy command. Three years later, after working with Oregon pitching coach Jason Dietrich, he is looking like the more complete pitcher scouts who saw him in high school envisioned.

Much of Peterson’s success stems from his fastball-slider combination. He’ll throw his fastball in the 89-94 mph range and backs it up with an above-average slider that flashes plus at times. He effectively mixes in an average changeup and will throw a below-average curveball as a “get me over for strike one” type offering. While he’s still refining his overall command within the zone, his control has been tremendous, keeping his walk rate at a miniscule level as a junior.

Over the summer, Peterson’s stuff was somewhat ordinary pitching out of the U.S. Collegiate National Team’s bullpen. But the 6-foot-6, 240-pound southpaw, with a strong and durable build made for starting, has seen his stuff tick up this spring. That, along with a performance reflecting those improvements, has put an up arrow next to his name as the Draft nears.

  • Ranked as the #1 player in the state of Oregon by Baseball America
  • Ranked as the #4 LHP in the draft by Baseball America

Links:

Oregon’s David Peterson strikes out 20

Oregon’s Peterson could go in first round Monday

Round 2, Pick 59 – 3B Mark Vientos

Statistics – @MarkVientos_5

Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 190 DOB: 12/11/1999 (17)

School: American Heritage HS (FL)

Slot Value: $1,094,700

Notes:

Baseball America #40 – Video

Even as an underclassman, Vientos was well-known for the huge upside in his bat. Before transferring to American Heritage, Vientos participated in the 2016 National High School Invitational with Pembroke Pines, Fla.’s Flanagan High where he showed rare ability to impact the baseball. On the summer showcase circuit the following summer, Vientos consistently hit the ball hard and that hasn’t stopped this spring. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Vientos has a projectable body that should add even more strength. He has thunderous hands and he’s able to generate explosive bat speed without loading his hands deeply. He’s able to drive the ball with backspin to the gaps and he projects for at least plus power as he learns to loft the ball more.

Defensively, Vientos is unlikely to stay at shortstop, lacking the glove actions or body control typically found at the position. He’s also a well below-average runner. His plus arm strength leads scouts to project him moving to third base or a corner outfield spot.Vientos is one of the youngest prospects in the class and won’t turn 18 until December. He is committed to Miami, but his loud offensive skillset and youth are likely to entice a team to pick him on the first day of the draft.

MLB Pipeline #67 – Video

Vientos entered the spring as one of the more intriguing high school bats in the country, one who many thought had first-round potential. An up-and-down spring has made him a bit more of a polarizing prospect than that, with opinions on him varying greatly.

Vientos’ offensive potential is what had scouts interested in the first place, so if you saw him when he was swinging the bat well, you like him. He hasn’t done that as consistently as some would have liked to see. He does show good bat speed and has definite power potential from the right side of the plate. Vientos isn’t overly athletic, so even though he plays shortstop for his high school team at American Heritage, he will likely have to move to third at the next level, with some thinking he has the hands and arm strength to handle the hot corner.

Vientos did miss some time this spring with a quad injury, but he certainly has been seen enough over the summer and at events like the National High School Invitational. He reminds some of Manny Machado in terms of body type, and he’s also drawn a Michael Morse in high school comp. A team believing his bat will play will give the Miami commit a shot in the opening few rounds.

Perfect Game

Mark Vientos is a 2017 SS/3B with a 6-4 190 lb. frame from Pembroke Pines, FL who attends Charles W Flanagan HS. Tall and lanky athletic build, narrow waist and broad shoulders, young athlete who is very projectable physically. Very smooth actions defensively, light on his feet with soft and quick hands at the ball, compact arm action with good arm strength, has the athleticism to stay at shortstop even as he matures physically. Right handed hitter, deep hand load, has strength and lift in his swing, hands will occasionally get under the ball, can create carry to the opposite field ally, swing mechanics and timing weren’t consistent but the tools are there to develop. Is the type of player who scouts dream about his potential. Good student, verbal commitment to Miami. Selected for the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

  • Ranked as the #5 player in the state of Florida by Baseball America
  • Ranked as the #2 3B in the draft by Baseball America

Links:

Mark Vientos determined to win state championship

Mark Vientos’ heart is in Miami, but his skill may take him elsewhere

Round 3, Pick 97 – OF Quinn Brodey

Statistics – @quinnbrodey2

Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 195 DOB: 12/1/95 (21)

School: Stanford University

Slot Value: $553,200

Notes:

Baseball America #188

A 37th-round pick out of high school in 2014, Brodey pitched and hit in high school, and several scouts liked him better as a pitcher as a prep. He was a three-pitch lefty in the upper 80s with an athletic frame who could spin a breaking ball, but he struggled with command as a Stanford freshman, walking 10 in 10.1 innings.

An above-average runner, he also got playing time in the outfield and became a regular in 2016 and ’17, hitting seven home runs each season. None of those came in Pac-12 play in 2017, but Brodey led the Cardinal in total bases. Scouts gave him no plusses among his tools but grade him as average across the board, with present strength and some feel for the barrel. Brodeys’ arm has backed up since high school; that and his fringy speed likely make him a left fielder as a pro. He’ll have to tap into his average raw power to be a regular.

MLB Pipeline #173 – Video

A two-way talent coming out of the California high school ranks, Brodey played the outfield and pitched briefly in relief for Stanford as a freshman. He left the mound behind for good as a sophomore and has been a mainstay in the lineup the last two seasons, putting up solid, albeit unspectacular numbers along the way.

Brodey entered the spring as a college performer who had the chance to move up boards, maybe even into Day 1 territory, with a strong junior season, especially after an All-Star performance in the Cape Cod League. He didn’t produce quite as well as he did over the summer, though he did show off some offensive skills that made him intriguing in the first place. He is capable of barreling up the baseball, with an improved approach at the plate that saw him increase his walk rate considerably as a junior. That should enable him tap into his power more consistently, important for him to profile at an outfield corner. Because of his fringy speed and arm, Brodey is destined for left field, so the bat will have to play enough for him to be a regular.

Even if his star faded a bit from summer to spring, Brodey is still very much on teams’ radars. He could be a good fit for a team that puts weight on a Cape League performance in particular in the top six rounds.

  • Ranked as the #6 player from Northern California by Baseball America
  • Ranked as the #31 OF in the draft by Baseball America

Round 4, Pick 127 – RHP Tony Dibrell

Statistics – @TonyDibrell

Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 190 DOB: 11/8/95 (21)

School: Kennesaw State

Slot Value: $413,100

Notes:

Baseball America #104

“Athletic” and “projectable” are scouting buzzwords more often thrown around in conversations about prep arms, but scouts often apply them to Dibrell too. He’s progressed each year that he’s been at Kennesaw State, and he’s become the ace of the Owls’ staff as a junior. Dibrell’s velocity has fluctuated throughout the season, but he’s reached the mid-90s late in some starts, and his plus arm speed points to further velocity gains. He’s thrown two breaking balls in the past—he’s shown an in-betweener this spring with sharp 11-to-5 shape—it projects as an average or slightly better pitch. His changeup could be his best offspeed weapon, with some scouts grading it as a future plus offering. Dibrell has been used a lot this season, eclipsing the 120-pitch mark often, especially for a pitcher of his age. He’s a projection play with a chance to make it as a starter and the whip-quick arm to have an impact out of the bullpen if he ultimately needs to move there.

MLB Pipeline #116 – Video

Dibrell won just one game in his first two seasons at Kennesaw State, but he hinted at his upside by earning All-Star recognition in the Cape Cod League last summer. He has emerged as easily the best college prospect in Georgia this spring, drawing physical comparisons to Edwin Jackson, a Peach State high school product.

With a quick arm and a strong frame, Dibrell can run his fastball up to 96 mph and sit at 93-94. His velocity dipped at times later in the season, the result of throwing 110 or more pitches six times in his 14 starts. After trying different versions of a breaking ball in the past, he has mostly settled on a hard slider/cutter with late darting life.

Dibrell can spin a curveball with good depth and has aptitude for throwing a changeup. His fastball, slider and changeup all can be plus pitches at their best, so he has the ingredients to start. To succeed in that role in pro ball, he’ll have to continue to hone his strike-throwing ability.

  • Ranked as the #5 player in the state of Georgia by Baseball America
  • Ranked as the #37 RHP in the draft by Baseball America

 

Round 5, Pick 157 – OF Matt Winaker

Statistics – @mattwinaker

Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 195 DOB: 11/29/1995 (21)

School: Stanford University

Slot Value: $307,800

Notes:

Baseball America #316

A former prep quarterback, Winaker had two modest seasons for Stanford before helping lead the Cardinal to a big finish and second place in the Pacific-12 Conference as a junior. He runs well enough for the outfield, but Stanford likes agile defenders at first base, and Winaker qualifies. He led the team with eight home runs after hitting just three in his first two seasons. He has some present strength in his 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame and controls the strike zone, with more walks (98) than strikeouts (81) in every college season. He hit a soft .270 in the Cape Cod League last summer, but his power improvement this spring stands out, especially considering all eight of his homers came in Pac-12 play.

  • Ranked as the #10 player in Northern California by Baseball America
  • Ranked as the #20 1B in the draft by Baseball America

Round 6, Pick 187 – RHP Marcel Renteria

Statistics – @AliMarcel2

Ht: 5’10” Wt: 175 DOB: 9/27/94 (22)

School: New Mexico State University (Senior)

Slot Value: $237,600

Notes:

Baseball America #483

Just 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, Renteria nevertheless may have a bullpen future in pro ball. A transfer from Pima (Ariz.) JC, he stepped in as New Mexico State’s ace and led it to the top seed in the Western Athletic Conference tournament. He pitched poorly there but had a strong season thanks to two above-average pitches, a 92-94 mph fastball that touches 97 but can lack plane, and a power curveball that he used as his strikeout pitch. His 9.8 K/9 led the conference.

  • Ranked as the #4 player in the state of New Mexico by Baseball America
  • Ranked as the #196 RHP in the draft by Baseball America

Round 7, Pick 217 – RHP Conner O’Neil

Statistics – @FrigginConner

Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 190 DOB: 9/25/94 (22)

School: Cal State University, Northridge (Senior)

Slot Value: $186,200

Notes: 

Baseball America #490

O’Neil played at Central Arizona JC for one season before transferring to Cal State Northridge. He became the Matadors’ all-time career saves leader with 39. O’Neil was drafted by the Tigers in the 32nd round after his junior year but returned to school and had his best year yet as a senior, going 5-4, 2.70 with 35 hits allowed in 50 innings. His fastball tops out at 92 mph and he serves hitters a healthy diet of sliders to get his outs. O’Neil also has a curveball and changeup that he can mix in to keep hitters off-balance. He commands the strike zone, reads swings well, manipulates the ball as necessary, and stays composed on the mound. O’Neil isn’t flashy, but his track record, deep arsenal of pitches and makeup make him an interesting bullpen option.

D1Baseball.com (2016)

Righthander Conner O’Neil, who set the school record for saves last year, has been a force at the back of the bullpen again this year, posting a 1.91 ERA and five saves in 28.1 innings. O’Neil’s bread and butter is his ability to locate his cutter to both righties and lefties, then mix in a big-breaking curveball to keep hitters off balance.

  • Ranked as the #71 player from Southern California by Baseball America
  • Ranked as the #200 RHP in the draft by Baseball America

Round 8, Pick 247 – RHP Trey Cobb

Statistics – @cobber_22

Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 190 DOB: 6/24/94 (22)

School: Oklahoma State University (Senior)

Slot Value: $153,400

Notes:

Baseball America #452

Sporting a mustache that wouldn’t look out of place on Wyatt Earp, Cobb finished off an excellent four-year career as a Cowboy by going back to the bullpen. After stepping to a rotation spot in 2016 as a junior, Cobb moved back to his best role this year, as the senior once again worked as a very effective sinker-slider reliever. Cobb’s low-90s sinker and average slider play well because he is able to locate them, even though his stab in his delivery is normally indicative of a pitcher who struggles to repeat. Cobb turned the Cubs down as a 12th-round pick last year. This year he’ll be a bargain as a senior sign.

Perfect Game (2012)

Trey Cobb is a 2013 RHP/IF with a 6-2 190 lb. frame from Broken Arrow, OK who attends Broken Arrow HS. Tall slender slope shouldered build. Full hand over head delivery, quick compact arm action, high 3/4’s arm slot, hides the ball well, bit cross body on release, throws downhill, low effort delivery and repeats well. Steady 88-90 mph fastball, touched 91, maintains velocity from stretch, fastball mostly straight with occ arm side run when down. Varies speed on curveball, very good feel, throws curveball for strikes with good spin and depth, also has feel for change up with good arm speed and release point. Mature pitcher with plus pitchability, still has projection left. Good student, verbal commitment to Oklahoma State.

  • Ranked as the #8 player from the state of Oklahoma by Baseball America
  • Ranked as the #189 RHP in the draft by Baseball America

Round 9, Pick 277 – RHP Cannon Chadwick

Statistics – @CannonChadwick

Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 190 DOB: 12/2/94 (22)

School: University of Arkansas (Senior)

Slot Value: $139,700

Notes:

Baseball America (2014)

At just 6-foot and 200 pounds, the stocky Chadwick doesn’t have the ideal build of a prospect, and with a fastball that sits at 89-90 mph, he doesn’t have the eye-popping velocity of a prospect. But what he does have is a deceptive delivery and a true plus slider that devastated opposing hitters this summer and during his freshman campaign at Paris (Texas) JC. Chadwick struck out 68 hitters and recorded a 1.14 ERA in 71 innings with the Dragons, and he didn’t miss a beat this summer, posting eight saves and 25 strikeouts in 20 innings for Brazos Valley. The Arkansas commit has the chance to make an immediate impact at the back end of the Razorbacks’ bullpen next season, as he has exceptional polish for a young pitcher and the right mentality to go along with his excellent repertoire.

He commands both his fastball and slider very well, throws both for strikes consistently, and uses both pitches at any point in the count. His fastball is effective because it’s heavy, and the small hitch at the top of his delivery adds deception that disrupts the timing of opposing hitters. But his slider is his go-to out pitch, as he is capable of throwing it 83-84 mph with sharp, late break that often leaves hitters flailing at the pitch. Bombers coach Curt Dixon also raved about his bulldog mentality and his willingness to go right after hitters in pressure situations. He would be more effective if he added some velocity, which could be possible if he commits himself to the weight room once he gets to Arkansas. But his two-pitch mix and ability to command both pitches should make him an effective reliever in the SEC almost immediately.

Round 10, Pick 307 – RHP Stephen Villines

Statistics – @slimstevie

Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 174 DOB: 7/15/1995 (21)

School: University of Kansas (Senior)

Slot Value: $132,300

Notes:

Baseball America

As a low-slot righthander who can touch the upper 80s with his fastball and a track record of success, Villines is in the David Berg family of productive college reliever who is useful in pro ball because of his ability to tie righthanded hitters in knots. He’s Kansas all-time saves leader with 40 saves. Villines has a loose arm and plus control.

  • Ranked as the #4 player from the state of Kansas by Baseball America

Round 11, Pick 337 – OF Jack Schneider 

Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 190 DOB: 1/2/98 (19)

School: Daviess County HS (Kentucky)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Perfect Game

Jack Schneider is a 2017 OF/RHP with a 6-3 190 lb. frame from Owensboro, KY who attends Daviess County. Large frame with a lean, athletic build and wiry strength throughout. Frame projects to support additional size and strength while maintaining athleticism. Ran a 6.16 sixty yard dash. Primary outfielder with smooth paced actions while closing on the baseball. Clean glove actions while picking up baseball with an extended, smooth paced glove to hand transfer. Huge arm strength from a mid three-quarters arm slot, topped at 98 mph. Throws creating very good carry to the bag with accuracy.

Right handed hitter with a spread, straight stance. Hands load to a deep, strong position while weight shifts back. Level, line drive swing plane that flashed solid leverage through extension at times. Swings with intent creating very good bat speed through the zone with developing barrel feel. When squared, baseball jumps off barrel with very good backspin and carry to the gaps. Very projectable tools all around that will continue to improve with maturity and repetition. Good student. Committed to Murray State. Named to the 2016 Ohio Valley Showcase Top Prospect List.

  • Ranked as the #23 player in the state of Kentucky by Baseball America

Round 12, Pick 367 – RHP Bryce Huchinson

Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 245 DOB: 10/21/98 (18)

School: Deland HS (Florida)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

MLB.com Video

Perfect Game

Bryson Hutchinson is a 2017 1B/RHP with a 6-6 255 lb. frame from Port Orange, FL who attends Spruce Creek HS. Extra big and strong build. Primary first baseman at present but future likely on the mound. Has huge raw power at the plate when barreled up, nice shift into contact from a spread open stance and swings hard with intent to drive the ball, stays quiet and balanced, making frequent enough contact against quality stuff at his size will be the issue. Shows big arm strength on the mound as well, full loose arm action, 3/4’s arm slot. Fastball topped out at 94 mph early with late running life and good command out of the windup. Short slider is still developing but could become a power pitch over time. Very interesting player because of the strength and size/coordination. Good student.

 

Round 13, Pick 397 – RHP Nate Peden

Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 170 DOB: 10/16/98 (18)

School: University HS (Florida)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Prep Baseball Report

RHP Nathan Peden (University HS, FL) is an extremely athletic and projectable righty who has been up to 91.

The Daytona State commit has a projectable frame and clean easy arm action. He did not allow a hit over the final two innings of work. The fastball worked at 87-88 mph and can see a jump in velocity with better lower half usage. He also showed a slider with quality shape at 72 mph.

Round 14, Pick 427 – C Matthew Duce

Statistics

Ht: 5’11” Wt: 190 DOB: 11/22/95 (21)

School: Dallas Baptist University

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Minor League Ball

Although Dallas Baptist is not the toughest place to hit, the smallish Duce (c. 5′-10″, 182) put together a strong season in part-time play in 2016, featuring solid power (9.5% XBH, .187 ISO) and an excellent K/BB ratio built on OK contact (13% K) and good patience (14% BB). He was also named an all-conference defender despite only playing in 46 games, and starting 41, of the team’s 63. Duce has also built a strong summer league track record: he displayed quality power and patience in the competitive Northwoods league after his Freshman season, and last year produced a .389 OBP and .181 ISO in 90 PA in Cape Cod, although his 24 K and resulting .236 average weren’t ideal.

2017, on the other hand, hasn’t been as encouraging so far. At bat, his slash stats have improved a bit but the underlying abilities haven’t, as his power is essentially the same and both elements of his K/BB have deteriorated. In the field, his CS% is down from 33% to 27%, although that’s only in 11 tries; he’s also spent about half his time at 3B, which may say good things about his athletic ability or bad things about his catcher defense, depending on how you want to interpret it. His strong 2016, offensive skills, and summer league profile, though, make him a quality draft sleeper in any case.

  • Ranked as the #48 player in the state of Texas by Baseball America

Round 15, Pick 457 – SS Dylan Snypes

Statistics

Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 180 DOB: 5/1/96 (21)

School: Oral Roberts University

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Baseball America

Snypes hit .335/.393/.438 to lead Oral Roberts in batting. He’s more likely to get picked as a senior next year, but as a shortstop with at least an average arm, he may get some interest this year.

  • Ranked as the #25 player in the state of Oklahoma by Baseball America

Round 16, Pick 487 – OF Raphael Gladu

Statistics

Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 195 DOB: 6/23/95 (21)

School: Louisiana Tech University (Senior)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Round 17, Pick 517 – RHP A.J. Labas

Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 220 DOB: 12/8/98 (18)

School: Trinity Christian Academy HS (Forida)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Baseball America #226 – Video

Labas has been scouted often in his amateur career, playing on the same high school team as 2016 draft picks J.C. Flowers (Florida State) and Todd Lott (Louisiana Lafayette) as well as current teammate Austin Martin. Labas could end up being the best of the group. He has a durable 6-foot-3, 220-pound pitcher’s body and a strong three-pitch mix. His fastball works mostly at 88-91 mph and touches 92 and 93 on occasion. His best offspeed pitch is his changeup; it’s a low 80s weapon that disappears late, and Labas isn’t afraid to double up on it as he locates it down and to both sides of the plate. He shows flashes with a slurvy upper 70s curveball, a potential near-average offering to play off his average fastball and above-average changeup. Labas’s delivery isn’t always in sync; he has a tendency to swing his hips open early and he loses deception as a result. He is, however, a quality athlete and could develop more strength and consistency as he matures and improves his conditioning. Labas is committed to North Florida.

MLB Pipeline – Video

Labas, who is committed to North Florida, transferred to Trinity Christian Academy following his freshman campaign at Eagle’s View Academy and helped the team win its first Florida state championship in 2015, capturing the Class 4A title. As a senior, he reached 92-93 mph and pitched well at USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational. He has a decent feel for pitching, but he has a funky delivery and not everyone is convinced he can start. Labas attended the MLB Prospect Development Pipeline event in Bradenton, Fla., in February.

  • Ranked as the #37 player in the state of Florida by Baseball America
  • Ranked as the #91 RHP in the draft by Baseball America

Round 18, Pick 547 – 3B Carl Stajduhar

Statistics

Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 215 DOB: 4/29/96 (21)

School: University of New Mexico

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Baseball America #356

New Mexico annually produces huge offensive numbers under coach Ray Birmingham, and Stajduhar has done his fair share over his three seasons, including 44 homers (17 in 2017). A Colorado prep product, Stajduhar plays third base for the Lobos but has below-average athleticism that should shift him to first as a pro. He has a long arm stroke but average arm strength. He has gotten in better shape, losing weight prior to this season, and is an excellent competitor who can hit a fastball and has present strength to hit for plus power. It’s not just to his pull side either; the 6-foot-1, 210-pounder can drive the ball to the right-center field gap. Stajduhar’s bat will have to carry him in pro ball.

  • Ranked as the #3 player in the state of New Mexico by Baseball AMerica
  • Ranked as the #19 3B in the draft by Baseball America

Round 19, Pick 577 – RHP C.J. Van Eyk

Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 185 DOB: 9/15/98 (18)

School: Steinbrenner HS (Florida)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Baseball America #109 – Video

Firmly in the Top 100 earlier in the season, Van Eyk has fallen a bit because of injury concerns after he left a start this spring due to a forearm injury. The medical situation obviously clouds his draft stock, but he began throwing again and the specifics of his health will factor heavily into where he is drafted. Before his injury, Van Eyk was one of the more polished prep pitchers in the class, throwing strikes with a fastball that gets into the mid 90s as well as a sharp curveball that scouts grade as an above-average or plus pitch. His stuff and current pitchability give Van Eyk a fairly high ceiling, and he was one of the top prep pitchers in a Florida state that is loaded at the demographic. He struck out 55 batters in 38 innings this season, issuing just nine walks.

MLB Pipeline #120 – Video

Last summer, Van Eyk was a member of the USA Baseball 18 and under team’s pitching staff, helping the squad win gold at the Pan American Championships as a pitchability type right-hander. A jump in velocity early this spring had teams pouring in to see him, though some arm soreness left his Draft status a bit up in the air.

While Van Eyk showed a tremendous feel for pitching over the summer, he opened some eyes by cranking his fastball up to 95 mph this spring, thrown with good life with a very fast arm. When it is down in the zone, it has heavy sink. He complemented the fastball with a breaking ball that flashed above-average at times, but not consistently. With his improved velocity, Van Eyk did lose some of his pitchability, impacting his overall command, with scouts feeling he’ll need to find a balance as me moves forward.

The biggest question mark with the Florida State recruit came when he was shut down earlier this spring after an outing that saw him start the game at 94 mph but finished in the low-80s. If he can show he’s healthy, he could hear his name called in the top five rounds.

  • Ranked as the #18 player in the state of Florida by Baseball America
  • Ranked as the #38 RHP in the draft

Round 20, Pick 607 – RHP Yadiel Flores

Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 165 DOB: 7/31/99 (17)

School: Puerto Rico Baseball Academy (Puerto Rico)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Perfect Game

Yadiel Flores is a 2017 RHP with a 6-2 159 lb. frame from Yabucoa, PR who attends Puerto Rico BB Academy. Tall and very slender build, very projectable physically. Stays tall over the rubber well, accelerates hard to the plate before release, gets all he can out of his body, full arm action and his arm is on time coming through to release, tends to land a bit open on his front side. Steady mid 80’s fastball, topped out at 86 mph, maintained his velocity from the stretch well, has nice running and sinking life on his fastball when down in the zone. Slider flashes tight spin and bite at lower velocities, tends to overthrow his slider at times and throw through the break, got right handed hitters reaching well when he had his slider feel. Did not observe a change up. Interesting young pitcher with two solid pitches and a strong chance to keep improving with additional strength. Has gained 6 mph over the last year. Good student.

Round 21, Pick 637 – LHP Aaron Ford

Statistics

Ht: 5’11” Wt: 190 DOB: 9/9/94 (22)

School: Tennessee Wesleyan University

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Round 22, Pick 667 – RHP Joshua Payne

Statistics

Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 260 DOB: 10/3/94 (22)

School: West Texas A&M University (Senior)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Round 23, Pick 697 – LHP Jose Sierra

Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 190 DOB: 2/22/96 (21)

School: Monroe College

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Round 24, Pick 727 – RHP Joe Cavallaro

Statistics

Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 190 DOB: 7/19/95 (21)

School: University of South Florida

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Baseball America #397

Cavallaro was one of the best relievers in the country this season, posting a 2.28 ERA and striking out 77 while walking just 19 in 59.1 innings. He’s not overwhelming or overpowering, but Cavallaro is an above-average athlete with a loose, repeatable delivery and late life on all of his pitches. His fastball works at 87-90 and shows above-average movement, and he complements it with a plus cutter at 81-85 and a sharp three-quarter curveball. Cavallaro’s performance, coupled with his impressive command and deceptive arsenal, could allow him to succeed as a middle relief prospect at the next level.

  • Ranked as the #58 player in the state of Florida by Baseball America
  • Ranked as the #168 RHP in the draft by Baseball America

Round 25, Pick 757 – SS Laine Huffman

Statistics

Ht: 5’11” Wt: 175 DOB: 10/5/95 (21)

School: California State University, Long Beach

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Round 26, Pick 787 – 1B Gavin Garay

Statistics

Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 205 DOB: 6/18/97 (19)

School: St. Petersburg College

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Round 27, Pick 817 – RHP Billy Oxford

Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 220 DOB: 10/22/95 (21)

School: Azusa Pacific University

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Round 28, Pick 847 – 1B Jeremy Vasquez

Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 205 DOB: 7/17/96 (20)

School: Nova Southeastern University

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Round 29, Pick 877 – RHP Liam McCall

Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 180 DOB: 2/19/99 (18)

School: First Coast HS (Florida)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Round 30, Pick 907 – RHP Ian McWilliams

Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 170 DOB: 3/19/99 (18)

School: Beech HS (Tennessee)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Baseball America

McWilliams is a classic projection righthander, with an athletic delivery and room to fill in his 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame. He pitches in the upper 80s with his fastball now, but projects to add velcoity as he gets stronger. McWilliams shows feel for spinning his mid-70s curveball, which flashes sharp bite but also has a tendency to sweep early. McWilliams is the younger brother of Diamondbacks prospect Sam McWilliams.

  • Ranked as the #21 player in the state of Tennessee by Baseball America

Round 31, Pick 937 – RHP Ryan Selmer

Statistics

Ht: 6’8″ Wt: 220 DOB: 5/20/94 (23)

School: University of Maryland

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Baseball America

Selmer is a big, 6-8 righthander who uses that height to generate tons of groundballs. He’s been a solid reliever for the Terrapins for three years now, and while he doesn’t rack up the strikeouts, Selmer has only allowed five home runs in 132 innings—a 0.34 HR/9 rate.

  • Ranked as the #7 player in the state of Maryland by Baseball America

Round 32, Pick 967 – LHP Kaylor Chafin

Statistics

Ht: 5’11” Wt: 180 DOB: 1/22/95 (22)

School: Texas A&M University (Senior)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

The Batt

Chafin does not light up the radar gun — he usually sits 88-to-91 mph with his fastball — but he complements his fastball with a sharp curveball and a devastating changeup. In the past he had thrown both a slider and a curve, but in the offseason he worked with head coach Rob Childress to eliminate the slider and focus on perfecting his curveball.

  • Ranked as the #50 player in the state of Texas by Baseball America

Round 33, Pick 997 – RHP MacLeod Lozer

Statistics

Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 190 DOB: 7/18/95 (21)

School: University of Michigan (Senior)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Round 34, Pick 1,027 – LHP Jake Eder

Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 210 DOB: 10/9/98 (18)

School: Calvary Christian Academy (Florida)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Baseball America #69 – Video

Jake Eder checks a lot of boxes. He is tall and physical, with a broad-shouldered, 6-foot-4 frame that looks to be built for a starter’s workload. He throws hard; Eder’s fastball works consistently in the low 90s and bumps 95. He’s also lefthanded and has a loose-and-easy arm action and delivery. Two points of emphasis in Eder’s development will be the continued growth of his command and the consistency of his breaking ball.

Towards the end of the spring, Eder began throwing more strikes, but he struggled to get the ball down in the strike zone at times. His breaking ball, at its best, will look like an above-average pitch with tight spin and three-quarter break in the upper 70s. At its worst, Eder’s curveball loops upward out of his hand and he’s unable to spot it for strikes. Eder’s biggest challenge is getting his timing down so that he can better repeat his delivery. He has a tendency to collapse early on his back side and lose balance, causing him to throw uphill and rush off the rubber. He’s far from his ceiling, but represents an intriguing high-risk, high-reward option. Eder is committed to Vanderbilt, but could be selected on the first day of the draft.

MLB Pipeline #66 – Video

Projectable and physical left-handers with the potential to have mid-90s fastballs aren’t easy to find. That’s why Eder, who has had an up-and-down spring, has garnered so much attention despite his inconsistencies and the difficulty it might take to sign him.

At times, Eder has been up to 94 mph this spring with his fastball, though he has had trouble maintaining it both within starts and from outing to outing. His 2-to-8 breaking ball is at least average when he’s on, but he tends to come around it a lot. He tends not to use his front side well enough in his delivery, leaving his elbow out on his breaking ball and throwing it mostly with his arm only. His changeup has improved somewhat, but he’ll slow down his body occasionally when throwing it and it’s often not firm enough, serving more as a soft different look he throws out of the zone than a true weapon.

While there are flaws, Eder does have a good body and his arm works well, with considerable upside that could be unlocked. The bigger issue might be his signability, with his commitment to Vanderbilt likely to be a tough one to break.

  • Ranked as the #11 player in the state of Florida by Baseball America
  • Ranked as the #9 LHP in the draft by Baseball America

Round 35, Pick 1,057 – RHP Kyle Wilson

Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 185 DOB: 9/27/96 (20)

School: Crowder College

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

  • Ranked as the #13 player in the state of Missouri by Baseball America

Round 36, Pick 1,087 – C Robby Kidwell

Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 200 DOB: 10/21/97

School: Brunswick Community College

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Perfect Game

Robby Kidwell, Jr. is a 2015 C/OF with a 6-2 183 lb. frame from Leonardtown, MD who attends Chopticon. Kidwell has long lean build with room to fill out. Hits from a square stance, toe tap trigger, hits to all fields with a line drive swing plane. Flat load with hands, makes consistent contact. Defensively, accurate throws, feet work well, has quick transfer and release.

Round 37, Pick 1,117 – LHP Joshua Walker 

Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 225 DOB: 12/1/94 (22)

School: University of New Haven (Senior)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Round 38, Pick 1,147 – 3B Daniel Alfonzo

Ht: 5’10” Wt: 220 DOB: 7/2/99 (17)

School: Bayside HS (Queens, NY)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

  • Daniel is the son of former major leaguer and current Brooklyn Cyclones manager Edgardo Alfonzo

Round 39, Pick 1,177 – RHP Noah Nunez

Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 210 DOB: 12/28/98 (18)

School: Santana HS (California)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

Round 40, Pick 1,207 – RHP Ronnie Taylor

Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 220 DOB: 10/6/98 (18)

School: Allen HS (Texas)

Slot Value: $125,000

Notes:

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Written by Jacob Resnick

Jacob Resnick, a student at Quinnipiac University and native of New York City, covers the Mets minor league system for MetsMinors.net. Follow him on Twitter at @Jacob_Resnick or contact him at jdrnym@yahoo.com.

Latest Comments
  1. JacobResnick

    Welcome everyone! Should be a fun next three days.

  2. Dilip Sridhar

    Brody Harris RF Stanford

  3. Buddy3

    5 Senior pitchers selected in rounds 6-10. Looks like Sandy has them lined up to take $10K a piece and use the cap savings on high end high school players. High School pitchers Cleveland and Plank were signed that way last year with the Placido Torres savings. Smart moves by a smart GM.

  4. bennyhill

    Plus fast track these arms, god knows we can use them

  5. Indian Dynamite!

    and trade them lol

  6. oleosmirf

    Seems like the Mets are addressing the severe lack of arms in the upper minors as these guys should rise quickly. Whether they will do anything after that is another story.

  7. Jason Mercado

    Smart moves so far. Vientos is a long term draft pick that could potentially be a great player in 3-4 yrs based on the scouting report and if his bat speed turns into power. Peterson is a player that will get the Justin Dunn treatment likely starting in Brooklyn then going from there, Lefty with a decent FB and very good control is a good thing to have; maybe he adds some MPH on his FB in minors. The college draft picks are great for BP depth in minors which is scarce right now.

  9. swimmer00

    SO essentially no high end talent drafted, some potential major leaguers but nothing special…….second year in a row we’ve had a subpar draft. Wasn’t this way under Depodesta.

  10. davidizwright

    Tough to judge before they even play but im a little underwhelmed with our picks this year (outside 1 and 2)

  11. Doubl

    ummm okay?

  12. jason bay

    I’m liking this day a lot more than last.

  13. Rocky Thompson

    Even with arm issue, C.J. Van Eyk lasting til 19th round probably means he is going to college.

  14. jason bay

    Nice job Jacob and Dilip.

  15. oleosmirf

    Not necessarily. The Mets went underslot a number of times early in the draft, so there is room for a few significant over slot signings.

  16. Jason Mercado

    Eder would be a nice Coup but I doubt he signs with a commitment to Vanderbilt and his projection as Lefty who throws up to 95mph. If he doesn’t sign. Expect him in top 10-15 in draft 3 years from now.

  17. Mike Francesser

    -1

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