David Groveman checking in to write a guest piece for Mack's Mets. Typically you can find me writing at www.Mets360.com where I cover the minor leagues. On Saturday I put out a piece where I outlined who I thought the Mets might get in given rounds. For today, with the draft hours away I'm writing about some of the players I think the Mets COULD be looking at in the first round tonight. Focusing on hitters, I'll start with the players I think are beyond our reach:
- Kris Bryant, 3B/OF
- Clint Frazier, OF
- Colin Moran, 3B
While some listed below might get selected before the Mets pick at 11th, I am certain the Mets will not be looking at any of those three names on the board come draft time.
Austin Meadows, OF [Grayson HS]: IF (it is supremely unlikely) Meadows is still on the board he is an interesting dilemma for the Mets. He's a tremendous "5-Tool Talent" but he's also a high school player and 3-4 years from his hopeful rise to the majors. The consensus is that the Mets will pick college bats and I agree but it would be awful hard to pass on Meadows if he was available.
Reese McGwire, C/3B [Kentwood HS]: McGwire is more likely to fall to 11th but he makes less sense for the Mets as he plays a position that they have pretty well covered and isn't a refined college bat. Scouts talk about Effort vs. Talent and McGwire has more in the Effort column than I'd like with the 11th overall pick.
DJ Peterson, 1B/3B [New Mexico, Junior]: Peterson is popping up as the predicted pick for the Mets in a number of circles... but I'm less sure. I don't dislike him as a player and can see the value in the pick but I'm not sold that the Mets would be well served by taking a player who might be blocked (if Davis ever straightens out) by the time he's ready. Peterson SHOULD be available and would be a solid pick if the Davis era is at a close.
Dominic Smith, 1B/LHP/OF [Serra HS]: With Davis struggling I guess the experts are betting that the Mets would be more interested in finding his eventual replacement via the draft than filling the vast void of talent that the Mets lack in the outfield. Smith can probably be a corner outfielder but he's also a high school prospect and the commitment to USC makes me wonder if he would even sign with the Mets.
Phillip Ervin, OF [Samford, Junior]: The Mets would be banking 100% on Ervin's legs if they went with him and that would hardly be bad. The Mets lack a pure speedster in the minors but it would not be a pick that would please me. He's not enough of a hitter to make me excited about him in the first round. Anywhere after the 20th pick... SURE!
Aaron Judge, OF [Fresno State, Junior]: I like Judge. I think he'd be a good fit for what we need, but the consensus is that he's a talent more suited to the second half of the first round and that should keep the Mets away. He's huge and has power but I'd bet he goes around 25th overall.
Austin Wilson, OF [Stanford, Junior]: I happen to agree with Mack that Wilson would be a good pick. He's got a polished bat and seems to be ready to make an impact in the nearer future. He's not the "5-Tool" player that Meadows could be but his bat should play in a corner and he could be in the majors by 2015.
Hunter Renfroe, OF [Mississippi State, Junor]: You'll see that my money is on the Mets selecting Renfroe. He's a little more versatile than Wilson but his bat may be a little less ready. With the Mets needing a complete outfield overhaul, Renfroe's ability to play in any outfield position is a help.
Ryan Boldt, OF [Red Wing HS]: Yeah... I'm pretty sure that the Mets will not go in this direction. While Boldt has potential, he's too much like Brandon Nimmo including that he's one of the LEAST polished options available.
Michael Lorenzen, OF [Cal State Fullerton, Junior]: Lorenzen is an all-around player and I list him here despite my feeling that he's a 2nd Round talent. The Mets have had his name listed as an option and I like him as a pick for them but if he's the guy they get in the first round it's draft-cap shenanigans and the Mets are shifting the money they can spend into later rounds.
Well... here we go...
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