Mack's Mets Draft Profile - C Nelson Rodriguez

By - Stephen Guilbert

Mets 2012 Draft- Nelson Rodriguez- C – George Washington High School, Manhattan, NY 

John Sickels projection: Pick 91- Tigers

Mets select: 71, 75, 107.  

There are a number of catching prospects who will be around by the Mets supplementary pick and two second round picks. Rodriguez joins Josh Elander, Clint Coulter, Jason Goldstein, Tom Murphy, Kevin Pawlecki, Dane Phillips, Alex Bregman, Wyatt Mathisen and others as options for the Mets for their first four picks. I profiled Nelson Rodriguez back in February http://macksmets.blogspot.com/2012/02/players-i-really-want-mets-to-draft-c.html) and I still want the Mets to draft him for the same reasons: 

-          He is a big, physical catcher with a great bat. The Mets could really use…a big, physical catcher with a great bat.

-          At 6’3, 230 lbs, Rodriguez has the physical presence to stay behind the plate long term.

-          He has a cannon for an arm and shows impressive quickness for a player his size.

-          He has dominated high school competition and finishes his senior year with a batting average near .500 with good power and run-production for his fourth straight year (5 HR, 38 RBI as of May 1^st).

-          Has lost 20 lbs. since last spring from eating better. This has gotten him quicker behind the plate—one concern about his ability to stay behind the dish for much longer.

-          According to his coach, has a magnetic and jovial personality and is a true leader.  

Quotation from Steve Mandl, Nelson’s high school coach:  

“I heard a little bit that Nelson won't be a catcher at the next level, and that upsets me a little bit. He loves catching and he's worked so hard at it. He still needs a little work. Sometimes he won't frame well, but he's always blocked well. He's going to improve. The things he needs to improve on are teachable things that he can work on. He has a cannon arm, and he calls a very good game. I have no problems with Nelson calling a game, and occasionally I'll ask him what he's going to throw. We're usually on the same page”.  

That quotation and most of the information in this post comes from a fantastic article by Joseph Santoliquito of Maxpreps.com which you can read here: http://www.maxpreps.com/news/k1hIE-zWQUaPdCmx4l7H2A/nelson-rodriguez-has-father-on-his-mind-as-mlb-draft-approaches.htm. It focuses on Nelson’s relationship and memory of his father who passed away while Nelson was 10 years old. Nelson says that his father has been and continues to be his motivation and will be on the front of his mind on draft day.

I would hate to see another team draft Nelson and the Mets miss out on him. He could be something quite special and he’s a local kid. Cross your fingers when the Mets pick at 71 and 75. I would reach for him at either spot.  

LGM