Even though we are in March right now, it is that time again to get ready for the MLB draft. The MLB draft is so different than drafts by other leagues because as long as a couple of players make the majors from a draft year, than its considered a good draft. This year thanks to free agent signings and retaining type A free agents, I know for sure that the Mets do not have any first round picks and I am pretty sure that they do not have any first round supplemental picks. Today, I want to go back a few years and look at what we picked up in the first round and where those players are going to be this year:
2004- Phil Humber: No Longer with the Mets, Traded to the Twins with a bunch of other prospects for Johan Santana. Last season he pitched in 5 games and almost 12 innings for them.
2005- Pelfrey: No need to expound here, he is in the Mets starting rotation, and could be our number 4 guy all the way up to our number 2 guy.
2006- No First Round Picks
2007- Kunz: He is still a highly touted prospect who hasn't lived quite up to his hype yet. He did good in AA last year but struggled in AAA and in the majors. He has had a pretty good spring so far and with injuries to the major league club, he will find his way into the club this year again. If not by then, he will get there as soon as rosters expand in September. If he has a good year this season, then he will be a big factor and player to watch next Spring. Here are his numbers from this last season:
Mets: 4 G, 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, BB, K
BNG: 1-4, 44 G, 48.1 IP, 25 BB, 43 K, 2.79 ERA
NOL: 0-1, 6 G, 5.2 IP, 2 BB, 4 K, 7.94 ERA
2008- In 2008 the Mets had two picks in the first round, then a supplemental pick making a total of three first round picks. So far they all have been impressive, although one, Brad Holt, seems to be standing out as the brightest. Ike Davis was the first overall pick for the Mets and then Reese Havens. Here are their write-ups:
Ike Davis: Davis is a 1B/OF type and seems to have some extra base hitting ability. He didn't hit any triples or homers in the minors yet, but he was able to smoke 15 doubles. His speed is a little below average, and if something holds him up in the minors, that will probably be the reason. He has seen some playing time with the Mets this Spring, including a 2-4 performance yesterday with a double. These are the numbers he put up last season:
BRK: 58 G, 215 AB, 17 R, 55 H, 15 2B, 17 RBI, .256 AVG
Reese Havens: Havens mainly plays SS, but the Mets have been gving him time now at 2B (I wonder why). His play was really hampered last year because for the first time in his playing career he was hampered by a few nagging injuries. If he can get healthy he is also a player to watch in the season to come. In his short time playing last season, he was very impressive:
BRK: 23 G, 85 AB, 13 R, 21 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, .247 AVG
Brad Holt: He has been very impressive because of his fastball. He gets it down fast and he has been causing all sorts of trouble for hitters. The Mets do not want to rush him but would love for him to develop, because he can be a major pitcher in the future. These were his very nice numbers from last season:
BRK: 5-3, 14 G, 72.1 IP, 33 BB, 96 K, 1.87 ERA
The Mets have had a pretty good couple of drafts the last few years, mainly because they drafted a chip to get Johan and they got Pelfrey. The class from 2007 and 2008 could start to be heard in New York as early as this year, and more than likely in 2010 and 2011. In the next part of the MLB draft preview series here, I will be looking at the Mets second round picks, as well as the picks they will have this season (and talking prospects hopefully)!
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