With their last four picks in the 2024 MLB draft, the Mets selected outfielder Jacoby Long from Miami; two-player (right-handed pitcher/ shortstop) Jace Hampson from Lynnwood High School in Washington; right-handed pitcher Frank Ellisalt from Nova Southeastern University; and shortstop Adam Haight, a top 250 draft prospect.
In a collegiate-heavy draft for New York, the Mets grabbed two high schoolers with two of their last four picks.
Jacoby Long, Photo by Richard C. Lewis
Pick No. 503 (Rd. 17) – Jacoby Long, OF, Miami
With the 503rd (Rd. 17) overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, the Mets went collegiate again selecting outfielder Jacoby Long from the University of Miami, FL.
The senior and Palm Beach Gardens native sits at 6’1”, 200lbs.
Long finished the 2023/2024 season batting .303, with a .371 OBP, and slugged .446. He had 11 doubles, a triple, four home runs, 24 RBIs, and 37 runs scored, while swiping 10 bags.
Over his four-year career with the Hurricanes, he had a slash line of .297/.370/.437, 15 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 38 RBIs, 75 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases.
In the field, Long had no fear in flashing a strong throwing arm, recording 115 putouts in 121 chances in 2024. He had a total of 181 putouts on 189 chances over the course of his four-year collegiate career.
Long is known for his above-average speed and is a candidate to play at center field.
Pick No. 533 (Rd. 18) – Jace Hampson, Two-Way Player, RHP/SS, Lynnwood High School (WA)
The Mets went with a versatile high-school infielder/right-handed pitcher in Jace Hampson out of Lynnwood High School in Washington with the 533rd pick.
According to Perfect Game, Hampson was the No. 1 ranked third baseman (6th overall player in Washington) in Washington. He is a right-handed thrower who bats lefty. He shows solid bat speed, a balanced stroke, and a good feel for lifting the ball.
The 6’1”, 175lb high-schooler was named to the West-All Region 1st Team for Perfect Game’s preseason All-American and All-Regionl Teams.
He has a fastball that topped 91 mph in October 2023 and a splitter that has reached the high 70s. Scouts for Prep Baseball Washington say he has a talented arm with more in the tank and a good chance of developing quickly.
Hampson is currently committed to the University of Oregon.
Pick No. 563 (Rd. 19) – Frank Elissalt, RHP – Nova Southesastern University
With the 563rd pick, the Mets selected Frank Elissalt out of Nova Southeastern University. Elissalt stands at 6’2”, 210lbs.
Elissalt spent his sophomore year with Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers, FL, before transferring to Nova Southeastern for his junior and senior years.
In 2022, while pitching for Florida Southwestern State, Elissalt was 4-3 with a 3.92 ERA over 59 2/3 innings. He struck out 61 throughout those 15 games he appeared in, 13 of which were starting appearances.
As a junior in 2023, he played in 14 games for Nova Southeastern, going 0-4 with a 4.69 ERA and striking out 60 over the course of 67 1/3 innings pitched. He had two quality starts on the season, one against Palm Beach Atlantic and one against Eckerd College. Moving into 2024, Elissalt was 3-8 with a 3.71 ERA throughout 19 games pitched (3 started). He struck out 62 in 50 innings pitched.
With 46 total appearances and 194.2 total innings pitched in his collegiate career, it will be interesting to see how the Mets look to develop Elissalt.
Pick No. 593 (Rd. 20) – Adam Haight, SS, Cedar Park Christian High School (WA)
With their final pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Mets selected another high school shortstop from Washington in Adam Haight from Cedar Park Christian High School.
Haight is listed by MLB.com as the No. 187 prospect coming into the 2024 MLB draft. He is 6’2”, 175lbs. He has scouting grades of 50 for hitting, 40 for power, 45 for running, 55 for arm strength, 45 for fielding, and an overall MLB.com scouting grade of 40.
According to scouts, Haight is the top high school position player in the Pacific Northwest with a solid set of all-around tools. The young shortstop also has experience on the mound, to which he has earned high praise. Some have said that his setup is similar to that of the No. 1 draft pick in the 2024 MLB draft, Travis Bazzana from Oregon State.
Haight has good bat speed through the zone, an ability to get the bat-to-the-ball, and a decent pull power that he is expected to develop more with a little bit more confidence.
Haight is also ranked high by Perfect Game with a 156 overall rating, coming in as the No. 40 shortstop nationally in 2024. In Washington, he is ranked as the No. 1 shortstop and the No. 2 overall player in the state. The 18-year-old is one of the best players in the state.
Haight is currently committed to Oregon State University.
