With a 6-3 victory over the Dunedin Blue Jays, the St. Lucie Mets have won their first Florida State League Championship since 2006. It is their sixth championship, tied for second most in league history.

St. Lucie jumped out to an early lead thanks to a pair of 2022 draft picks. First round pick Kevin Parada singled home fifth round pick D’Andre Smith. Parada scored on a Tanner Murphy RBI single giving St. Lucie a 2-0 first inning lead.

Undrafted free agent Brad Malm hit his first professional home run in the second to expand the lead to 3-0.

St. Lucie would put the game and series away in the fourth. Oscar Campos hit an RBI double, and he’d score on a Parada RBI infield single. Chase Estep, the Mets ninth round pick this year, would drive home the third run of the inning giving St. Lucie a 6-0 lead.

This was more than enough cushion for St. Lucie starter Blade Tidwell, who completely outpitched his counterpart, Rafael Sánchez.

The Mets’ second round pick this year was brilliant. He pitched five scoreless innings allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out seven.

On a night like tonight, the Mets scouting department looked like geniuses. Tidwell and Parada, the Mets’ first two picks of the draft, worked well together over five innings. Parada also had the two RBI.

Javier Atencio relieved Tidwell in the sixth, and he struggled. He allowed a three-run homer to Roque Salinas. He would not settle down after that.

St. Lucie Mets’ manager Reid Brignac brought in Paul Gervase with runners at the corners and two out. He would induce a groundout to get out of the inning. The Mets 12th round pick would remain in the game until the end recording the first save of his professional career.

With the victory, St. Lucie was a perfect 4-0 in the postseason en route to the championship. During the playoffs, we saw recent draft picks shine, and we saw their professional careers begin with a championship, and for now, we can dream of them doing the same when they make their way to the majors.