Pic via @JacksonJaha32 on Twitter
With the 449th pick in the 15th round of the MLB Draft, the Mets selected Jackson Jaha, a third baseman out of Clackamas HS in Oregon. Jaha is the fifth high schooler drafted by the Mets this year and the second high school third baseman after fourth-round pick Jacob Reimer. It also happens to be Jaha’s 19th birthday today, so this is quite the present.
With the 449th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft the Mets selected 3B Jackson Jaha from Clackamas HS (OR)
6-2 205 lbs. His father, John had a 10-year big league career and was an All Star in 1999. Committed to Oregon. pic.twitter.com/WSfTWF1MlX
— Joe DeMayo (@PSLToFlushing) July 19, 2022
Jaha is the son of former major leaguer John Jaha, who was a 14th round pick back in the 1984 MLB Draft, played ten seasons for the Brewers and Athletics, and was an All-Star in 1999. At 6’1 and 205 pounds, Jaha profiles similarly with the bat to his father, who hit 141 home runs in his career and reached at least 30 home runs in two different seasons.
Jaha is a University of Oregon commit who Perfect Game has as the highest ranked third base recruit and the third overall recruit in the state of Oregon.
Jaha is a two-way player but was drafted as a third baseman, as he has shown more promise as a hitter than as a pitcher. Prospects Live has him at #550 and notes that he has “huge bat speed” but that he is a “fringy athlete with below average foot speed.”
He may end up at a corner infield spot or in right field depending on how he develops from an athleticism standpoint. It is clear that the bat is much further along than the glove.
With the 479th pick in the 16th round of the MLB Draft, the Mets selected Jimmy Loper, a senior right-handed pitcher out of Duke University. Loper is a 6’4, 215 pound reliever who has posted a 4.15 ERA across 57 appearances (102 innings) for Duke.
With the 479th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft the Mets selected RHP Jimmy Loper from Duke.
6-4 215 lbs. Posted a 4.44 ERA in 24 relief appearances. Struck out 64 in 48.2 innings. Up to 96 mph on his fastballpic.twitter.com/6KbFO3zcDY
— Joe DeMayo (@PSLToFlushing) July 19, 2022
Loper allows a lot of contact, but he has allowed just seven home runs in those 102 innings. He has a powerful arm, striking out 64 batters in 48 2/3 innings this past season. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, and he also has a slider and a changeup.
The Mets are going heavy on pitching on Day 3, and Loper adds to the mix as yet another reliever with big strikeout potential. He also comes with a lot of experience under his belt as a reliever, which may serve him well as he adjusts to a similar role at the professional level.
