The Mets 21st Century Outfielders

The waiving of Fernando Martinez got me thinking.

We all know the lack of success the Mets have had in the International market (Martinez, Carlos Gomez). How have the Mets done in the draft this century regarding outfielders?

Here are the top OF picks beginning in 2000:

2000 - 7th Round - Jeff Duncan - Arizona State -  $75,000 bonus - played six years in the Mets organization. .270 career minor league hitter. Had 154-AB with Mets (.182). Also played minor league ball for San Diego, Toronto, and the Dodgers. Ended his career in 2008, in the independent Atlantic League. Currently an assistant coach at Purdue University.

2001 - 2nd Round - Alhaji Turay - Auburn - $550,000 bonus - played six years in the Mets system. Career .249 hitter. Was sent home by the Mets in 2002 after signing autographs with the name Tom Hanks. Never rose above AA. Finished his career in 2007 for Quebec in the CanAm league.

2002 - 4th Round - Bob Malek - Michigan State - played 6 years in the Mets system. Had only 56 AAA at bats. Career .257 hitter. Career ended in 2008 for the Dodgers AA team. In 2011, Malek was named as the hitting instructor for the Brooklyn Cyclones.

2003 - 1st Round - Lastings Milledge - Lakewood Ranch H.S. - $2,075,000 bonus. Gee, I really hadn't planned on writing anything ever again about this guy. Let's just say it didn't work out and sayonara.

2004 - 10th Round - Brahiam Maldonado - St. Francis (P.R.) - $62,500 bonus. Played eight seasons in the Mets organization. Never rose above AA. Declared free agency at the end of last season.

2005 - 6th Round - Greg Cain - Gahr H.S. (CA.) - $152,500 bonus - played parts of two seasons for the GCL Mets. A total of 180 professional at bats - .194.

2006 - 7th Round - Daniel Stegall - Greenwood H.S. (AR.) - $145,000 bonus - Played four seasons in the Mets organization. .219 career hitter. Had only 5-AB above Savannah. Disappeared after the 2009 season.

2007 - 38th Round - Brandon Kawal - Concordia University - team didn't draft an outfielder in the first 37 rounds. Played two seasons for the Mets, ending with Savannah in 2008. 142 professional at bats: .275.

2008 - 2nd Round - Javier Rodriguez - P.R. Baseball Academy - $585,000 bonus. - still in organization, but going in the wrong direction. Ended season in Brooklyn. Career .248 hitter.



2009 - 4th Round - Darrell Ceciliani - Columbia Basin College - $204,300 bonus - excellent 2010 for Brooklyn. Injured in 2011 - sub-par 2011 season for Savannah.

2010 - 4th Round - Cory Vaughn - San Diego State - $240,300 bonus - excellent 2010 with Brooklyn - finished 2011 with St. Lucie.