Stephen Guilbert - Introduction to the 2014 Amateur Player Draft

LHP Carlos Rodon

The talent that comprises this year’s player draft has the potential to be one of the best groups in quite some time. Industry experts agree that 2014 boasts both college and high school polish, upside, and depth on both the hitting and pitching side of the game. Many up-the-middle players, sluggers, power pitchers, and the upper echelon of the collegiate ranks will hear their names called early on day one this June.

The New York Mets have the #10 pick. While losing records pain fans 364 days of the year, this is the single day you can be guardedly glad our favorite team did not win a few more games in 2013. #10 is a protected pick and the Mets surrendered their second round pick for signing Curtis Granderson. The safety of this early pick should produce a player that, if chosen well, should jump into the top 100 prospects in all of baseball just about instantaneously.

Currently, the consensus #1 pick in the draft is NC State LHP Carlos Rodon. Unless something significant happens over the next few months, the Astros will get a player I have referred to as a “lefty Strasburg”. Rodon is big, throws hard, has five pitches, and throws strikes.

While Rodon is also my preferred choice for the Mets to draft, I also know that he will not be around. I also doubt East Carolina flame-throwing RHP Jeff Hoffman will be there either. If Rodon goes #1, Hoffman should go #2.

Past the pair of aces at the top, I could see every other player slipping to #10, although some are very unlikely.

My second pick in this draft is Rodon’s teammate at NC State, SS Trea Turner. Turner has what many refer to as “game changing speed”, a very good glove, and a contact approach at the plate. The Mets hope he slips to #10 because of his leadoff and gold glove potential. Unfortunately, I do not think he slips out of the top five or six picks.

I also find it hard to believe that college righty Tyler Beede or high school righty Tyler Kolek fall to the Mets either. Both Tylers have too much talent and polish to fall out of the top 10. Kolek has gotten off to a fast start this year, flirts with 100 MPH, and shows every indication he will be yet another tall, hard-throwing Texan hurler in the bigs. I could see the Twins grabbing him.

HS RHP Touki Toussaint, my current favorite draft prospect

A few players fans should research at this point of the season are RHP Touki Toussaint, LHP Sean Newcomb, OF Michael Gettys, LHP Brady Aiken, SS Nick Gordon, and OF Derek Fisher. Right now, these are the players that should be in the #7-15 range. I will profile these players in coming weeks.

A few disclaimers before we wrap up here: It is still very early. In three months, we could see Hoffman in the third round and someone none of us have ever heard of as the consensus top pick. This is not football or basketball. That is also what makes the MLB draft so fascinating. Do not think that because the Mets took a high school bat with their first three #1 picks in ’11-’13 that they will do so again. Lastly, reach out to me for questions about the draft or individual players. This is a learning process for me and getting to the point where I recognize and can talk with confidence about a few hundred players takes time. Chatting with fans is the best way to learn about the new wave of talent to hit professional baseball.

Early next week I will profile a handful of players that should go in the top 10 picks. Later in the year I will make a few mock drafts, interview a couple players, and crowd source with Mack and others about the Mets final #1 pick as we get close to the draft.

All of my information is gathered through scouting websites, video, and draft expert opinion. Some of these players I will see in person, but it will only be a handful. My favorite resource is Matt Garrioch over at minorleagueball.com (who also has his own website http://www.mlbprospectguide.com/). Check out his coverage as he has a number of great links and blurbs on players.