BA on Mets Draft, Beltran Update, Matt Harvey, Blake Forsythe... and Cory Vaughn

BA on Mets Draft:



Rather than going cheap, the Mets led off their draft with a Boras Corp. client in RHP Matt Harvey (1), who came on as a junior at North Carolina after two inconsistent seasons. Whether Harvey will be steady enough to be a starter remains to be seen, and New York returned to its usual conservative ways after that pick. The Mets didn't have a second-rounder, and C Blake Forsythe (3) and OF Cory Vaughn (4) have to prove they can make consistent contact. OF Matt den Dekker (5) is a senior sign who sticks out most with his center-field defense. There's not a lot of upside in this draft, and New York didn't even take any high-price-tag players as late-round gambles. - link

Beltran Update:


He can't declare a return date, because he knows better than to defy the body's own healing schedule. He felt fine during his September cameo, for instance, but "the knee just never got better like it should have," which is why he had it operated on. Now, against these low-minor leaguers, he is trying to replicate baseball, swinging at bad pitches if he needs to just to experience contact again. This week he plans on refining the work more. After that? "After that," he said, "I hope." Hope is a good thing, especially now that the knee -- "Thank God," he says -- is pain-free. He will rest today, play again tomorrow, maybe start running in fourth gear soon, then fifth. He watches the Mets on his computer and on his cell phone, likes what he sees. And doing that can try his patience. "Soon," he says. "I'll be there soon. You can believe that, because I believe that." -
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Matt Harvey:


RHP, University of North Carolina: He's got a great arm, no question, but doubts about his mechanical consistency and his command make him (in my opinion) a bit of a stretch at seventh overall, especially since he's likely to want overslot money. That said, he does have a very high upside if he can keep his delivery in gear. - link


Blake Forsythe:


C, University of Tennessee: Has a strong throwing arm and shows power, but his spring was disappointing and there are doubts about his ability to hit well with wood, which could make him a backup catcher in the long run. - link


Cory Vaughn:


OF, San Diego State University: Son of Greg Vaughn, so he has good bloodlines. Very athletic, fast and skilled on the bases, has considerable power potential, but problems with contact may limit his batting average/OBP against professional pitching. Good upside, but also a lot of risk. - link