; ;

Mets Top Prospects for 2022: No. 16 Jake Mangum

By Steve Sica

February 23, 2022 No comments

Photo by Ed Delany of MMN

No. 16 Jake Mangum, OF

B/T: S/L
Age: 25 (3/8/96)
Ht: 6’1  Wt: 180 LBS
Acquired: Drafted in the 4th Round 2019 MLB Draft
ETA: 2022  Previous Rank: N/A
2021 Stats (Brooklyn/Binghamton):.285/.337/.454, 22 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 14 SB

The son of John Mangum Jr. former Chicago Bears Linebacker from 1990-1998, and nephew of Kris Mangum, the former Carolina Panthers Tight End from 1997-2003, Jake Mangum clearly had some great athletes right in his own family to look up to growing up. Jake, though, decided to blaze his own trail and pursue baseball over football. The Mets are sure glad he did, they were so impressed by the Mississippi State product that they drafted him twice.

In 2018, the Mets drafted Mangum in the 32nd round of that years amateur draft. Mangum, though, returned to Mississippi State to finish his Senior year. Where he led the team in hits (108), doubles (24), and average (.358) as he and future Met teammate J.T. Ginn, led the Bulldogs to a Super Regional Championship and a trip to Omaha in the 2019 College World Series. Once again, the Mets came calling, this time selecting and eventually signing Mangum in the fourth round of that years draft. He was assigned to Single-A Brooklyn where he hit .247/.337/.297 and was once again apart of another championship run as he helped the Cyclones win their first ever NYPL Championship.

Mangum’s development was put on hold during the COVID cancelled 2020 MiLB season. In 2021, he found himself back with Brooklyn but only for nine games until he was promoted to Double-A Binghamton. Mangum’s first full professional season was a successful one with the Rumble Ponies. In 75 games, he hit .294/.342/.459, slugging 7 home runs, driving in 41 runs and stealing 14 bases in 20 attempts. There was a stretch of games in mid to late August where Mangum was arguably the hottest hitter in the Mets system. During that time, Mangum had a 13-game hitting streak in which he hit for a torrid batting average of .458. It was all apart of a period from the end of July until seasons end where he hit .400/.456/.582.

A switch hitter, in addition to his positive attributes at the plate, Mangum is a sensational fielder. With his speed, slick fielding and accurate arm, Mangum is the perfect center fielder to captain the outfield. Mangum changed his approach at the plate (as he noted on a recent MMO podcast) from 2019 vs. 2021 and the results showed in all aspects of his game. He lowered his ground ball rate from 52.7% to 48.8% and improved his ground ball to fly ball ratio from 2.19 to 1.42.

Mangum, will look to continue his quick development through the Mets system in 2022. With outfielders a relatively thin position in New York’s farm system, Mangum has the potential to launch himself into the conversation of a Major League promotion this season. While hitting for power has never been a strength for Mangum, he makes up for it by consistently hitting for average, keeping his strikeouts low with good plate discipline and his above average field skills make him an asset in any outfield. Add in his speed on the bases and Mangum could find himself in Queens as a late season call up as a bench player and a strong defensive substitution late in games.

Mets Top Prospects 29-30
Mets Top Prospects 27-28
Mets Top Prospects 25-26
Mets Top Prospects 23-24
Mets Top Prospects 21-22

Mets Top Prospects 20 Eric Orze
Mets Top Prospects 19 Hayden Senger
Mets Top Prospects 18 Jaylen Palmer
Mets Top Prospects 17 Adam Oller