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2024 MLB Draft Day 3 Roundup: Mets Wrap Up Draft Loading Up On RHP

By Ricky Keeler

July 17, 2024 No comments

The 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft is now in the books for the New York Mets. Day 3 (Rounds 11-20) are where the area scouts can find those diamonds in the rough that end up being successful stories if those players end up making it to the big leagues.

Out of the ten picks that the Mets made on Tuesday, seven of them ended up being pitchers and all of them were right-handed arms. They also went back to schools that they took on Days 1 and 2 when they selected players from Houston and USC.

Nick Roselli, Photo by Jonathan Cohen of Binghamton University

The Mets began Day 3 by going with a New Yorker in Round 11 in Nick Roselli, a second baseman out of Binghamton University. Roselli is from Levittown, New York and is coming off a strong 2024 season with the Bearcats where he had a slash line of .388/.492/.738 with eight home runs, 21 RBIs, as many walks as strikeouts (21), and an .OPS of 1.230.

Roselli missed some time early in the season with a hand injury and he was still able to have an impressive season in the America East Conference. As Brian Recca from Prospects Live points out, the left-handed hitting second baseman shows a good approach at the plate and has good bat speed.

The pitching trend began for the Mets in Round 12 with the selection of Kansas right-hander Ethan Lanthier. Lanthier transferred from St. Cloud State to Kansas for the 2024 season and the reliever had 42 strikeouts to 19 walks in 37 innings of work.

Kansas’s coach, Dan Fitzgerland, had some comments about Lanthier after the draft and mentioned how the key pitch to watch for him in terms of his offspeed stuff is going to be the slider.

“(Lanthier) has a huge fastball and great feel for a well-above average slider. He’s a great competitor and an outstanding teammate.”

In Round 13, the Mets shifted their focus out west with the selection of Oregon right-hander R.J. Gordon. Gordon missed the entire 2023 season and had his first year as a starter this past year (Opening Day starter). In 17 starts, the 22-year-old right-hander pitched to a 5.13 ERA and had 87 strikeouts to 46 walks in 93.2 innings of work.

While in the Pac-12, Gordon was second in the conference in innings pitched and had the most starts of any pitcher in the conference.

Gordon sat out the 2023 season due to getting an internal brace repair in the UCL. He told the media before the season that it wasn’t torn. In addition to his fastball, changeup, and curveball, the right-hander mentioned that he added a cutter into the arsenal this year.

In addition to learning the cutter, Prospects Live pointed out back in June that Gordon might have a sweeper to go-to as well.

“Well, it looks like before his March 15th start vs Cal, Gordon added a sweeper full-time and is throwing his cutter harder. Averaging 13 inches of sweep at 83 MPH, this sweeper has the makings of a true out pitch vs right handed hitters.”

Tanner Witt, Photo by Aileen Vela of The Daily Texan

In Round 14, the Mets made an intriguing selection by picking Texas right-hander Tanner Witt. Witt had an excellent start to his collegiate career, but he ended up having Tommy John surgery in 2022. He was picked by the Orioles in the 18th Round last year, but decided to go back to the Longhorns.

Witt only appeared in five games this past season and he had more walks (8) than strikeouts (6) along with allowing four home runs over 9.1 innings of work. His fastball is around 90-94 miles-per-hour in velocity to go with a strong curveball.

Witt ended up having a cleanup procedure for scar tissue in his elbow as well, which caused him to not make as many outings this year. This is a pick where the Mets hope Witt shows some of the dominance he had when he was a hyped up draft prospect in 2020. Hopefully, Witt’s loyalty to Texas won’t end up costing him a good professional career.

The Mets went back to Houston for Round 15 to take right-handed pitcher Owen Woodward. Woodward was mainly a reliever with the Cougars. In 10 outings (1 start), his command popped off the page with 36 strikeouts to only four walks in 23.1 innings.

His one start came against Texas on April 12 and he went 4.2 innings, allowed one run on one hit, and struck out 10 on 71 pitches. However, Woodward ended up leaving that game with an elbow injury and did not make another appearance the rest of the season.

The headlines for Woodward unfortunately don’t just include his pitching. Back in 2022, when he was Weatherford College, Woodward allowed a home run and as the player was rounding third base, he ended up tackling that player after Phillips was saying something to him before the tackle.

For Round 16, the Mets go back out to the west coast to take USC right-hander Josh Blum. Unlike Will Watson from Day 2, Blum pitched out of the bullpen for the Trojans and had a 1.87 ERA in 27 games (10 saves). He had 45 strikeouts to 11 walks in 33.2 innings of work.

Blum was one of the better closers in the country as he was 14th in the NCAA in saves and he held opponents to just a .154 batting average. In addition to a fastball that can reach the mid-90’s in velocity, it is the tilt on some of his offspeed pitches that can help him bring deception as a closer in pro ball.

The Mets took a brief break from the pitching in Round 17 by going with Miami (FL) outfielder Jacoby Long. Long mainly played left field and center field with the Hurricanes. In 53 games last year, he had a slash line of .303/.371/.446 with four home runs, 24 RBIs, and ten stolen bases in his first full-season as the starter.

Long is a player that is going to be known more for his speed and that speed helped him make some fantastic catches in the ACC.

For two of their last three picks, the Mets went the high school route. It started in Round 18 with the selection of right-hander Jace Hampson from Lynwood High School (Washington). Hampson is an Oregon commit. When he was at the West Coast League last summer, he mentioned he grew up playing shortstop despite being recognized for his above-average skills at third base.

For Round 19, the Mets went with North Southeastern University right-hander Frank Elissalt. Elissalt transferred from La Salle to Division II North Southeastern. This past season, he made 19 appearances (three starts) and had 62 strikeouts to 17 walks in 51 innings of work.

What stands out about Elissalt is going to be his fastball. While he was at the MLB Draft League in 2022, he had one of the best spin rates on his fastball of any pitcher in the league.

For their final pick, the Mets went back to a Washington high school player in shortstop Adam Haight from Cedar Park Christian High School. Haight is a commit to Oregon State. If he decides to sign a pro contract, he is a player that shows good potential with his approach at the plate. According to MLB.com, scouts think he will mainly be a third baseman before being at shortstop, but the upside is there.

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Written by rickykeeler

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