Although college baseball is currently on pause, mock draft season is back upon us.
The MLB draft is currently scheduled for June 10, which is only less than two months away. However, with the cancelation of all collegiate baseball activities and the stoppage of all amateur scouting, it’s poised to be one of the more unique drafts in recent memory.
On Day 1, the Mets hold the 19th, 53th, and 70th slots.
Keith Law of The Athletic released his top-30 2020 MLB draft prospects yesterday. Pete Crow-Armstrong, a high-school outfielder, was ranked 19th. Law also notes that it’s been difficult to grade Crow-Armstrong since he excelled during his spring season, but struggled in the summer showcase circuit.
Crow-Armstrong played for Team USA in the U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2019, slashing .364/.405/.606 over nine contests.
As is the case with most high-schoolers, Crow-Armstrong’s profile is all about projectability, rather than current skill. His best tool is his arm, where he’s touched 99 mph on his throws from the outfield. He has an above-average contact skill and while it doesn’t appear in games too often, he has the ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark. He’s been dubbed one of the most impressive prep players in this year’s draft class.
Prospect Live‘s scouting report of the 17-year-old reads :
” Crow-Armstrong is the best overall player in the Pacific region of the country and it’s almost a lock that he’ll go in the first round come the MLB Draft in June. His commitment to Vanderbilt might make him a tad bit harder to sign than you’d imagine, but I think the right team will make the right offer to ensure that he doesn’t make it to campus.
Crow-Armstrong is a twitchy athlete with explosiveness to his game. He’s patient at the plate and owns a strong recognition of the strike zone, picking out his pitch to drive and shows an advanced ability to recognize spin. He swings a quick bat from the left side that takes a short path to the ball and has clear feel for his barrel with present bat speed. There is some swing-and-miss to his game and his load gets a bit lengthy at times, but these are correctable mechanical things that he’ll improve as he continues to mature and get older. He does create some loft at the plate without dropping his hands and there is some power potential in his 6-foot, 175-pound frame once he puts on good weight.”
Baseball America filmed some of Crow-Armstrong’s batting practice from last summer.
The Mets have been connected to Tennesse LHP Garrett Crochet over the last couple of weeks.
The Mets have selected high-school position players with their first-round picks the last two years. If they choose to do the same this year, Crow-Armstrong would certainly fill the criteria.
