As we inch closer to July 11, day 1 of the MLB Amateur Draft, industry mock drafts continue to link college hitters most heavily to the Mets with the 10th overall pick.

While we took a look last month at UCLA standout shortstop Matt McLain, he is hardly the only name being heavily linked to the Mets from that demographic. Boston College’s Sal Frelick has solidified his status as a top half of the first round pick with his strong junior spring, and is rumored to be one of the bats the Mets are looking at heavily.

Right off the bat, there is much to love about what Frelick brings to the table, and he packs it all into a strong, athletic but undersized 5’9″ 180 lb frame.

First, the Mets amateur scouting department under Tommy Tanous and Marc Tramuta are known to value high-character individuals who are well-rounded athletes and exhibit on-field leadership qualities. Check, check, and check for Mr. Frelick.

Having grown up in Lexington, MA, Frelick chose to stay close to home and play for a typically unheralded Eagles team that Mets scouts are not all that unfamiliar with tapping into for high-level talent. The last first round pick to be drafted out of the program? That would be the Mets’ own first 2016 selection, Justin Dunn.

Frelick, who stands in the box left-handed and uses a simple, compact swing with hand-driven strength to generate plus bat speed, exhibited his athleticism in high school as a three-sport star (hockey and football) and fiery leadership on the field throughout his tenure at Boston College. The level of familiarity, safety and desired intangibles that accompany Sal Frelick are absolutely advantages he brings to the table that cannot and will not be ignored.

But ultimately, the skills that Frelick brings to the actual baseball diamond stand on their own as 1st round worthy, as they must.

As Mets fans darn well know, true defensive center fielders don’t exactly grow on trees. So when you have the opportunity to scout Frelick, who in addition to spending time at second base and right field in college, used his 70 grade wheels this spring to play and project out to play an above average or better center field, you take a good, hard look. Here’s a great look at the easy speed Frelick generates. It is truly fun to watch.

Sal Frelick pulls a double down the RF line and showing off the wheels getting to 2nd w/ ease. @BCBirdBall #PGDraft pic.twitter.com/hleYHZSGSU

— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) April 18, 2021

So far, we have in Frelick a fiery leader who brings plus defensive skills at a premium position, the type of foot-speed / base-stealing ability that will easily translate to the major leagues, and a compact, quick swing that combined with impressive surface level performance in a major conference (60 career walks at Boston College to only 50 strikeouts, while hitting over .350 in each of his two full seasons) should project Frelick to being a solid average or better hitter at the big league level.

What’s the catch, right?

Well, in today’s game, hitting the ball out of the park is considered the most efficient way to make an offensive impact (and for good reason). Frelick has hit all of 12 dingers in just over 400 collegiate at-bats, a mark that on the surface alone, would put his in-game power production considerably below average. At the end of the day, one-note offensive ball players will have their doubters when talking about a potential top 10 overall pick.

But the team that selects Frelick will undoubtedly be looking at other below-the-surface power markers. While there is little access to public-facing exit velocity numbers at the amateur levels, Joe Doyle at Lookout Landing has reported that Frelick has achieved max exit velocity numbers in the 108 mph arena.

Combine that information with a classic eye-ball evaluation of above average bat speed, and there is room to extrapolate out for a level of impacting the baseball that at least approaches MLB average. This is especially the case if there is belief in the draft room in employing swing changes later in pro-development that could allow access to pull-side power. Take a look below at Frelick driving a ball 400 ft. and tell me you don’t believe.

Today’s Sophomore Spotlight: @BCBirdBall OF Sal Frelick hit .367 with 22 BBs to 16 K’s as a freshman last year (.960 OPS). Compact line drive swing with good bat speed and balance on this 400 ft 💣 Keep your eyes on this kid going into next year’s draft 👀 @SalFrelick pic.twitter.com/m75E1TlcX2

— Jacob Zweiback (@TheReelJZ) April 22, 2020

In fact, I think it’s a crucial question Mets evaluators must be hotly debating: whose power projection do you believe in more, that of Matt McLain or of Sal Frelick, if either? (Drop a comment below with your own thoughts!)

Undoubtedly, Frelick brings one of the more advanced and well-rounded profiles in the draft class, and deserves to be discussed going in the top 10 picks as he is. As has been the theme here for a few of the draft profiles we’ve gone throughout this spring, the most interesting contestants to go to the Mets 10th overall are like Frelick, bringing a tantalizing bucket of tools and skills that can have one envisioning both a high floor and a significant ceiling.

If Frelick ends up being the pick on July 11th for the Mets, we’ll know they couldn’t resist the chance to get this gamer’s total package at a position of ever-lasting need.