Some interesting names here. My favorite of this quintet is Trahan but there is a lot to like about Gallo’s power bat as well. Readers who are interested most in the players the Mets have a high chance of drafting should read #19 C Stryker Trahan. I think there is a good chance the Mets will draft him the way things look right now.
#16- SS Kenny Diekroeger – Stanford University
Why ranked #16: Former top high school prospect who exhibits elite athleticism and strong tools across the board. Went to Stanford and had a great freshman season, hitting .356 which dropped to .293 as a sophomore which could have been a slump or residual effects to the new collegiate bats. His athleticism should let him stay at short, although some scouts see him as an outfielder down the road. Good speed, will hit for power and average. Nothing lacks in his game but there is some concern about the sophomore slump and his numbers at Stanford suggest he has some patience and free-swinging issues at this point in his career (80:31 KK:BB ratio).
Why the Mets would draft him: The Mets will be looking hard at shortstops to take the place of Reyes. However, unless Deven Marerro is available (which I doubt), the best shortstop prospects will come from high school. My favorite is Carlos Correa and I would much rather see the Mets invest in his upside than someone like Diekroeger’s. Diekroeger is one of those players whose numbers have not yet caught up to his potential and athleticism. Despite a strong average in college, this is a kid who has power but only has seven home runs in over 400 at bats, is fast but has only stolen six bases in two years and last year he struggled all the way down to a .720 OPS. I respect the athleticism but worry about his strikeout-to-walk ratio in college and the numbers from last year. Some team will take a chance that Diekroeger is still developing and that the elite athleticism will turn him into a standout shortstop some day. They might get a steal. I do not think the Mets will be that team at #12 given the talent that will still be on the board.
Tools: All five tools are there. Despite only seven homers in over 400 collegiate at bats, the quick hands suggest more power will be coming. Will hit for average and while the arm is average, his athleticism makes his range at short impressive and Kenny could turn out to be a plus defender at the next level.
Ceiling: Solid shortstop and #2 hitter.
Trivia: Kenny played third base as a freshman at Stanford but moved back to shortstop last year and will play there as well in 2012.
#17- 3B/RHP Joey Gallo- Bishop Gorman High School
Why ranked #17: If Victor Roache is the college power bat in the draft, Gallo is the high school power bat. Add to that a fastball that can hit the mid-90s with a curve and a change that look like they could be plus offerings one day, scouts look at his 6’5, 205 lb. frame and want him on the mound. Ultimately I believe the team that drafts him will keep him as a hitter and despite being a behemoth, Gallo moves well and might stay at third long term. My gut says he is a first baseman when it is all said and done but the elite power from the left side should be just fine for any position.
Why the Mets would draft him: 25 HRs in 121 at bats last year as a junior. Given his strong arm, third base is a possibility for Gallo long term. The Mets would be interested in the elite power and if Gallo were drafted, would become the best power-hitting prospect in the system. While the swing is long and he will strike out, Gallo also has an outstanding eye and he reminds me a bit of Ryan Howard in his use of his lower-half and his long swing from the left side. I like his swing better though. It is smoother and in many ways cleaner than Howard’s which is why, ideally, he could hit for a higher average and strike out fewer times than Howard. If the Mets pass on him, I could see the Nationals taking Gallo and grooming him foet r their first base spot (unless they convert or plan to convert Michael Morse at some point). I am not convinced Gallo will stick at third and if the Mets feel the same way, I believe they will pass. However, he may not be on the board by #12. The power is real and a lot of teams will be attracted to his size, strength, swing, and athleticism for a big guy.
Tools: Elite power from the left side. Moves well for his size and will hit for a good average for a power hitter. Quicker than you would think in the field given his size and has a cannon for an arm which suggests he could be useful and stay as a third baseman as a pro. If he moves across the diamond to first, the bat will be more than enough to make up for it.
Ceiling: 30+ homers a year from a 3rd baseman and clean-up hitter who will not win awards for his glove but will showcase an elite arm to gun down runners in close plays at first.
Trivia: The reputation Gallo has built for himself as a power hitter may not better be exemplified than through his display at the Perfect Game All-American Classic last year. According to Diamond Prospects, Gallo hit a 442-foot home run that helped earn him the MVP award for the event. That 442-foot bomb was the longest ever at the classic and is currently the 10th longest home run ever hit at Petco Park
#18- RHSP Chris Beck – Georgia
Why ranked #18: Throws three pitches including an elite fastball from 92-96 MPH. Big-bodied, durable pitcher who is one of the most major-league ready arms in the class. Strong showing (2.12 ERA) in the Cape Cod League has increased his stock.
Why the Mets would draft him: Beck would be another power righty to add to Harvey, Wheeler, Familia, Mejia. As Mack has said time and time again, you can never have too much pitching. That being said, Beck has struggled with control at times and the secondary offerings are question marks. A college righty close to the big leagues might not be the direction the Mets will go at #12 and I doubt he will be around after the first round. The fastball is elite and he should make it to the bigs quickly but I believe the Mets will pass on Beck when it is all said and done if he is even around. Some mocks have him going to the A’s or Rockies just before the Mets pick.
Throws: Four-seam fastball (mid-90s, touches 97), slider and changeup are works in progress but are getting better. The slider could be a plus pitch eventually.
Ceiling: If the slider and changeup get there, Beck could be a power righty/#2. At this point, given the fastball/slider combo, some control problems, and his makeup, I see a future closer.
Trivia: Teammates with eventual fellow first-rounder OF Victor Roache. Scouts will have plenty to watch on both sides of the ball this spring.
#19- C Stryker Trahan - Acadiana HS (LA)
Why ranked #19: Arguable the second best catching prospect in the class behind Mike Zunino. Great athleticism and impressive speed for a catcher. Strong power from the left side. Pop times range from 1.85 to 2.01 seconds and many think he can stay at catcher long term. If not, the bat should be enough to play in right field.
Why the Mets would draft him: Mets need a #1 catcher in the system and with Zunino likely to be gone by #12 and Trahan sure to be gone by the supplemental round, the Mets might grab Trahan before another team does. I see Trahan as one of the more likely picks by the Mets at #12 and that is more than fine by me. I love that Trahan is a catcher who runs a 6.54-60 and his arm is outstanding. The power might not be as elite as Elander or Zunino’s but Trahan’s eye is strong and he could hit for average, some power, and steal a base here and there. Sounds a lot like Brian McCann or Russell Martin and I do not think that is too aggressive a projection for Trahan. If the Mets think Trahan could be the real deal and move relatively quickly through the system, he fits into the plan for the future and will be taken with the Mets first pick in the 2012 draft.
Tools: Good lefty power, good running ability and a great arm behind the plate. Enough defense to stick at catcher and is still improving. Good eye and patience behind the plate.
Ceiling: Middle-order catcher who gets on base and provides strong defense and tools across the board.
Trivia: Trahan sees time at tight end for Acadiana’s football team in the fall.
Mack: Here's the problem. There are 12 great players in this draft and, at least one of them will be availabe when the Mets come up.
That being said, they need at least one prospect catcher in the system.
I would pick Stryker.
#20- RHP Jake Barrett – University of Arizona
Why ranked #20: Big fastball, nice curve, developing change. Class of ’13 college righty from Arizona
Why the Mets would draft him: Depending on how Barrett looks in the spring, he could be long gone by the #12 pick or still be around by the supplemental round and the second pick the Mets have. If Barrett can prove he can dominate as a starter, he becomes one of the elite college starting pitching prospects. If not, some teams will look at him as a back-rotation guy or reliever. Either way, I do not think the Mets will bite at Barrett at the #12 spot but may if he is around in the supplemental. Again, the Mets will have a ton of options at #12 and there is a lot of risk for such a major league-ready college righty to scare me off.
Throws: Low-90s fastball (90-94, can reach back for a bit more), curve, average change. Have read he throws a split-finger fastball as well but can not make that out in the low-quality “scouting” videos I have seen thus far.
Ceiling: Fringe #2/#3/closer.
Trivia: Barrett was drafted out of high school in the second round by the Blue Jays in 2009.
Mack: Dropping in mocks for no apparant reason.
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