Round 9

With their ninth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft (269th overall), the Mets selected Chase Estep, a 22-year-old third baseman from the University of Kentucky. At 6’0” and 200 lbs., Estep’s selection continued the Mets’ trend of picking players who can flat-out hit regardless of stature. Six of the Mets’ first eleven picks in this draft have been 6’1” or shorter.

Estep took a massive leap forward in his junior year after a lackluster 2021 sophomore season, during which he hit .252/.286/.329. During the 2022 season, he hit .302/.416/.560 with 13 home runs. The power surge was the most dramatic turnaround in his game, as he had hit just a single home run during his first two college seasons. He played a significant amount of second base in 2021 but was only a first baseman in 2022.

Baseball America ranked Estep as the 309th best player in this year draft and highlighted hard-contact ability, while warning readers of his much poorer play against advanced competition:

It was not a surprise when Estep decided to play for Kentucky. His father, Chad, played for Kentucky from 1992-1993 and his uncle, Chris, played for the Wildcats from 1986-1988. The younger Estep had a very productive junior year as he stepped into a starting role and led the Wildcats in on-base percentage (.416) and slugging percentage (.560). Estep has a relatively simple lefthanded swing and plays fringe-average defense at third base. What’s intriguing is he showed he could make hard contact without sacrificing the ability to make lots of contact. What makes scouts skeptical is how his numbers cratered against SEC competition. There are concerns that he feasted on lesser competition. He hit .213/.312/.382 in conference, and against fastballs 93-plus mph, he hit .212/.316/.242. Against fastballs 92 mph or softer, he hit .360/.495/.767.

Prospects Live ranked Estep #224 in the draft, and noted that his future defensive home may be at second base:

Estep saw a monumental surge in 2022 in just about every category imaginable. The power, the defense, the bat-to-ball… it all tooks leaps forward. A primary third baseman, scouts believe he may fit a bit better at second base with his reactions and lateral range. It’s not a huge arm, but Estep can handle third base at the pro level, albeit just a fringy glove at the position. Estep has average raw power and could fit a quality utility role at the big league level at his peak.

The video below shows a home run from early March 2022, highlighting Estep’s newfound power to center field:

Round 10

The Mets selected right-handed pitcher Zebulon Vermillion with their 10th round pick (299th overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft. Vermillion is a fifth-year senior out of the University of Arkansas, making him only the Mets’ second true senior draftee of the first 10 rounds. He will turn 24 years old in October.

Vermillion pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen during his five years with Arkansas. The best season of his collegiate career came in 2022. During that season, he had a 2.39 ERA in 24 appearances and struck out 9.6 batters per nine innings.

elow is a video of a strikeout from an appearance in the middle of February:

Zebulon Vermillion (@RazorbackBSB) gets the K here on the SL at 85. Worked 90-93 from XL frame. ‘22 elig pic.twitter.com/r7MK8vkr2b

— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 28, 2022

Scouting reports on Vermillion are limited, but he was sitting 90-93 MPH in an appearance earlier this season. In the past he has touched 95 MPH on his fastball. His slider is his go-to secondary pitch and sits in the mid-80s. At 6’5”, 240 lbs., he has an ideal pitcher’s build, and his mechanics appear clean.