Look For Mets To Go College SP With First Draft Pick

The Mets are pretty predictable when it comes to first round picks, especially under the Minaya era. This year, there’s an additional wrinkle. Yes, it’s been a great year for graduating a prospect SP to the Queens rotation (Jonathan Niese), but the sad fact is there is no one down the pipeline currently showing any signs of following that path in the next couple of seasons.


The next great rotational pitcher was supposed to be Jenrry Mejia, who no one has any idea where he’s going to wind up in the long run. Pitchers like Dillon Gee, Eric Niesen, and Mike Antonini have showed flashes, but none have put up the minor league numbers that predecessors like Niese and Mike Pelfrey have. Even more troubling is the struggles of Brad Holt, Jeurys Familia, and Robert Carson, who were supposed to be dominating at their current level.

Normally, teams don’t draft by position, and no one expects a 2010 draft pick to get to the majors in their first couple of years, but expect the Mets to go college-veteran starter with their first pick on June 7th. This is not the time to go high school and spend four to five years on a project. No, the Mets need to find someone that can hopefully step into the 2013 rotation, at the latest.

LHP Drew Pomeranz will be long gone when the Mets pick comes up, and if RHP Anthony Renaudo or LHP Sammy Solis are still around, the Mets won’t risk this critical pick on someone with recent injuries.

Look for one of these names to go across your computer:

Deck McGuire – Georgia Tech – junior… 6-6, 223, R/R… four quality pitchers… 2008 1st team All-American from Collegiate Baseball… excellent command… 2008: 8-1, 13 starts, four relief appearances - power fb when down in the zone, range velo 90-95, mostly 91-92 early - He throws all his pitches well - 2009’s ACC Pitcher of the Year – McGuire has a fastball that clocks in the low 90’s, but has heavy sink. He compliments it with a hard slider that is a plus pitch. He's very polished He shouldn't need a lot of minor league time, and represents one of the safest investments in the draft class.

Alex Wimmers – Ohio State – Junior… 6-2, 195, R/R… 2009: 9-2, 3.27, 136-K, 104.2-IP… pitched no-hitter against Michigan - has smooth mechanics and a big curveball that helped dominate big 10 - As a sophomore last season, he had a 9-2 record and compiled a 3.27 ERA in 104 2/3 innings. He also struck out 136 and walked 55 and limited opposing teams to a .211 clip. His fastball is average, about the low 90’s, but his off-speed pitches show promise. His curveball is his best pitch, a true wipeout pitch with good movement. His changeup is also an above average pitch, giving him an effective three pitch mix. First 50 innings pitched in 2010… 60Ks, 13-BB…

James Paxton – Kentucky… dominated SEC in 2009… 37.9% K 4.8% BB… born in Canada… 6-4, 210… 97 mph fastball, slurve, changeup… he’ll still just be 21 at the time of the draft… A power lefty who can hit upper 90s… He throws in the mid 90’s, touching 98, and features a solid curveball and a changeup…. Paxton, a lefthander, boasts a fastball that sits 92-94 mph with late life and can touch 97 mph as well as a wipeout slider which projects as a potential plus pitch… down side could be bonus demands from his agent