Bryan Reynolds, Photo by Joe Howell/Vucommodores.com
After losing their 2015 1st round pick due to the Michael Cuddyer signing and having a plethora of players graduate to the big leagues over the last two years, it’s easy to say this farm system has been depleted. The 2016 draft is a great opportunity for Sandy to retool the system with two first round picks.
With the Mets first two picks, I would like to see them select a college outfielder and a high school pitcher. Let me explain. Over the next two years, things could get messy in the Mets outfield with Cespedes potentially opting out after this year and Grandy Dandy being a free agent after 2017. We still don’t know if Lagares is an everyday player and I have serious doubts about Brandon Nimmo. Every time you look up, the guy is getting hurt. Not to mention, he’s a .268 career hitter in the minors. He’s not exactly lighting the world on fire.
That leaves two potential gaping holes in the Mets outfield over the next two years. Thank the greater powers that be that the Mets have Michael Conforto. All of this leads me to the conclusion that the Mets should try to grab the best college outfielder on the board with their first pick that can help in the next 1-1/2 years similarly to how Conforto has helped the Mets. I know that’s a reach but here is to hoping.
In the supplementary round, I would take a chance on a risky but uber talented high school arm. My reasoning is that these pitchers usually take 3-5 years to develop. In the next 3-5 years, the Mets will lose one if not two of their star pitchers. Let’s face facts here folks, the Coupons are not spending 800-900 million to keep the five man band together long term. It’s just not realistic. This is why they need to start preparing for that reality now. Below, I have listed college outfielders that could be potential options for the Mets when they select at 19 overall. Followed by HS pitchers that could be potential options when they make their pick in the supplementary round.
College Outfielders I like:
Bryan Reynolds
Ht: 6’2 Wt: 210 Age: 21 B/R: S/R
Reynolds is a disciplined hitter which I’m sure Sandy will love and has one of the best eyes in this draft class. The Vanderbilt product has decent power with a solid gap to gap approach which should lead to many singles and doubles. I can see Reynolds as an ideal leadoff hitter for the Mets. I also like that Reynolds is a switch hitter. In 2015 Reynolds batted .318 with a .388 OBP with 17 stolen bases. My main issue is that Reynolds has an average arm at best. He’s probably best suited for Left field.
D1baseball.com
Nick Banks
Ht: 6’0 Wt: 200 Age: 21 B/R: L/L
Banks from Texas A&M, is a decent defender with a very strong arm which can be seen here. He has a short swing with decent power. He had 8 HR’s in 2015. Banks should be able to man RF if he makes it to the big leagues. In addition, he has good speed with a chance to steal 15-20 bases at the major league level with the ability to a solid #2 hitter in the lineup.
High School pitchers I like:
Orangeobserver.com
Austin Bergner
Ht: 6’4 Wt: 195 RHP
From what I’ve seen, he is a great athlete with a fluid delivery from Windermere Prep HS in Florida. His fastball lives in the 92-95 range and has a great frame to be a major league pitcher standing at 6’4. I’ve read that scouts compare him to Jake deGrom. Sign me up! If Bergner is available at 31, I think it’s a great draft pick.
perfectgame.org
Ian Anderson
Ht: 6’3 Wt: 170 RHP
New York native from Shenendehowa, NY. He has a projectable frame with explosive stuff. His fastball lives in the 90-92 mph range but can max out at 94. The changeup comes in at the 78-81 mph range. That’s a nice difference in speed from the fastball. From the video I have seen, he has a decent breaking ball with gradual depth. He has a smooth and clean arm action although it seems he is putting too much pressure on his upper body when he goes through his delivery. This would be a risky selection at 31 but this kid has the upside to be special down the road.
Waht about a college 3Bman? DW´s days might be numbered, and 3B is a relatively weak position in the Mets system….
One of our other writers covered a couple of 3B he thought would be good fits for the Mets last week in this article. http://metsminors.net/who-will-the-mets-pick-at-19/
And yet most think Bercerra will be in RF and he’s in High A right now.
If anything the argument could be made for an uber talented pitcher at 19 or even a real HS 3B who can replace David Wright. You figure a HS kid will need 4- 5 years in the minors. That plays in line with Wrights contract. It would also likely run most of Flores arbitration period as well.
Could see a scenario where the infield is a new rookie 3B, Cheech at SS (or Rosario, with Cheech as super-sub), Herrera and Smith.
Even if the two holes do get created, it’s easier to find FA OFers. Colby Rasmus will be a FA next year…you could platoon him with Lagares for 2-3 years.
Sorry just saw the other comments! Glad we are on the same page
Hey Hector,
A HS 3B fits with Wright´s contract, but I fear that we might need someone sooner, given Wright´s back issues. That´s why I suggested a college guy… 😉
Well it’s always best talent available regardless of position. But if all things are equal a 3B would work.
We have both Wright and Flores for the next 4 years. Even if they dead up split the PT there you’re going to be OK. Add to that Ceech and Rosario and you’ve got enough talent to cover SS and 3B for a 4-5 year period. So you’ve got the opportunity to grab the highest upside available
If nothingelse, this Ian Anderson plays a damn good flute.
They mentioned a few in another article. And Not for nothing but I think Desmond Lindsay is the guy. Plays OF now but I think he’d play great at the hot corner.