The Mack Report - Thursday, July 21st

I touched on this on my comment feed on my post yesterday. 

The Mets got a huge stud power bat at 1.11, but, in my opinion should have gone all starters for the next four rounds. 

Starters are the most thin position in the chain and quality bats were, as said they would, were gone early. 

The Mets made a big mistake not drafting Dylan Lesko at 1.14. Mark my word. He will be the Lucas Giolito of this draft. 

I am thrilled at the Blade Tidwell pick in the second round. He must have serious bonus demands. I and most draft nerds had him as an early first rounder. 

But instead of the Nick Morabito pick in the 2^nd , they could have chosen pitchers like Nolan McClean, Nate Savjno, or Ben Joyce. 

Brandon Sproat was a nice pick in the 3^rd, but they could have picks Henry Williams, Bryce Hubbart, Tristan Vrieling, or Jonathan Cannon. 

I know the Mets did far more research on this than I did, but, I’m just saying… 

 

Was told I missed putting up the Mets 10^th pick in this draft. 

The Mets picked redshirt senior, 6-5, LHP, Zebulon Vermillion. 

Appeared in 15 games in 2022, making six starts … Posted an unblemished 3-0 record with a 4.69 ERA in 40.1 innings of work … Logged one save, the third of his career … Totaled 28 strikeouts on the year … Allowed 21 runs on 41 hits and 15 walks … Made his first career start in the season opener against No. 3 Texas Tech (Feb. 20) in the State Farm College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, striking out four over four innings of two-run ball … Earned his lone save of the season against Murray State (March 6), emerging from the bullpen to throw 2.1 scoreless innings … Went a career-long 8.0 innings in back-to-back starts at Louisiana Tech (March 13) and against No. 22 Alabama (March 20) … Limited Louisiana Tech to one run on three hit while striking out a pair … Held Alabama to one run on one hit while matching his season high in strikeouts with four … Came out of the bullpen in the first game of a doubleheader at No. 3 Ole Miss (April 10), fanning four in 1.2 innings of work … Tossed a scoreless frame with two strikeouts against No. 9 Florida (May 22) … Member of an Arkansas pitching staff that set a school record with 657 strikeouts in 2021 … Before the season, earned a spot on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year preseason watch list. 

 

The Mets 18th round pick, the Mets chose 4-year junior, 6-2/215, RHP, Chris Santiago, out of St. Mary’s College (CA). 

Santiago pitched in 16 games (1-ST) posting a stat line of 1-3, 4.50, 0.95, 20-IP, 20-K. 

 

In the 19^th round, the Mets chose 6-4, HS senior, SS Jackson Lovich, out of Blue Valley West HS (KS). 

Lovich, who finished his senior year at Blue Valley West High School by winning the Kansas 6A state title this spring, took home the Kansas Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year award and was a finalist for the national Gatorade Player of the Year. 

The 6-foot-4 shortstop has hit .241 for eight extra-base hits and 13 RBI in his 26 games for the Renegades this summer. 

 

And with their last pick, the 20^th, the Mets chose 6-0, 4-year junior, LHP Eli Ankeney, out of Grand Canyon University (41-21). 

Eli was strictly a reliever. In 29-appearances, he went 3-3, 2.68, 1.02, 40.1-IP, 61-K 

 

Open SmartNews 

"LSU pitcher Paul Gervase reverses course after he was drafted by Mets, will now go pro" here: 

https://share.smartnews.com/onHJG  

 

 BPJ  - 2023 MLB Draft: 10 College Players to Know 

Dylan Crews, OF, LSU 

Crews was one of the top prep players in the 2020 draft class before opting out of the draft. Now three years later, Crews is the favorite to go first overall in the 2023 MLB draft. Crews is the complete package.

He has a powerful right-handed swing that produces elite exit velocities and uses the entire field. He hits for average and power while possessing respectable plate discipline. 

Crews has the skillset to remain in center field. He has above-average speed and arm strength. He also has quality instincts that allow him to make all the necessary plays in the field. 

Crews has hit .356 with 27 doubles, 40 home runs and 114 RBIs in 495 at-bats in his first two years at LSU. He has tallied 100 strikeouts and 81 walks. The 6-foot, 203-pound outfielder has five-tool potential with the ability to move through a minor-league system quickly. 

 

Yesterday’s Tweets - 

 

Yurrrr @g_yurrrr 

Noah Syndergaard  ⇄ PTBNL(Nick Morabito) 

 

This Mets scout told club to draft Jett HERE 

 

Front Office Sports @FOS 

Juan Soto's agent confirmed that the Washington Nationals "refused" to charter him a flight to the Home Run Derby, after he rejected their $440M contract extension. 

Soto flew commercial, arrived in LA at 1:30 a.m, then won the Derby. 

 

Brian @ComebackBrian 

Career HRs (combined) 

Mike Trout, Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, Tatis Jr. : 645 

Luis Guillorme and Barry Bonds: 766 

Makes you think 

 

Michael Mayer @mikemayer22 

Mets 2nd round pick (75th overall, Syndergaard compensation) Nick Morabito: 

"I am going to sign and I’m real excited about getting started." 

The INF/OF hit .545 with 12 home runs, 10 doubles, six triples, and stole 52 bases this season for Gonzaga College High School.