11th Round

With the 329th pick in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, the Mets selected Rhylan Thomas, a junior outfielder out of the University of Southern California. The 6’0, 170-pound Thomas is the second outfielder to be selected by the Mets in this draft, following second-round pick Nick Morabito. He is also the second player from USC to be taken by the Mets after fifth-round pick D’Andre Smith.

The #Mets continue to prioritize bat-to-ball skills with OF Rhylan Thomas in the 11th round. Solid hitting ability and zone control. Could be interesting if he can add some more power.#MLBDraft

— Carlos Collazo (@CarlosACollazo) July 19, 2022

Through three seasons at USC, Thomas has posted a .335 average and an .812 OPS. He put up his best numbers this past season, hitting .363 with eight steals and a .422 OBP.

Thomas had an impressive showing in the Cape Cod League in 2021, posting a .912 OPS across 12 games. Prospects Live had him in ELITE tier as someone who has “plus bat to ball skills, below average juice, and an above average feel for the strike zone.”

Thomas only has four career home runs at USC, but he has also walked as many times as he has struck out throughout his career, so he profiles more as a contact bat who can work counts and get on base efficiently. That seems to fit the mold perfectly of what the Mets have been getting from their outfield bats this season and what they are seemingly looking for moving forward.

12th Round

With the 359th pick in the 12th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, the Mets selected Paul Gervase, a redshirt junior right-handed pitcher out of LSU. Gervase stands at a staggering 6’10 and 230 pounds and put up impressive stats as a reliever this past season for the Tigers, posting a 1.85 ERA across 29 appearances with 52 strikeouts.

According to Prospects Live, who had him ranked at #176, Gervase sits in a low to mid-90s but got up to as high as 97 on his fastball and has a “swing-and-miss changeup that fools lefties especially.”

Like Thomas, Gervase also had an outstanding showing at the Cape Cod League. In seven appearances (11 1/3 innings), he pitched to the tune of a 1.59 ERA with 18 strikeouts. He did walk nine batters in those seven appearances and has struggled with pitch command in the past, but he demonstrated great improvement in that regard this past season at LSU with just 15 walks in 39 innings.

The big question mark surrounding Gervase immediately following his selection was his intention to sign a professional contract. Gervase announced after Day 2 of the draft that he was returning to LSU for the 2023 season after not hearing his name called in the first 10 rounds.

Thank you Tiger nation for everything!!
Forever LSU!!!

— Paul Gervase (@PaulGervase1) July 19, 2022

However, his tweet with that announcement was deleted shortly after being drafted by the Mets, and he put out a new tweet that seems to imply that he intends to sign with the Mets. If that is the case, the sudden change of heart is a great development for an organization that has seen its fair share of bullpen struggles over the years.