MACK – Three more possibilities for Mets first pick

 We continue with three more players that easily could be available when the Mets pick in the first round of the 2027 draft:

 

Gavin Kelly, C/2B/OF, West Virginia

20/years old – 6-0/175 – RHH –

2026/West Virginia -   251-AB, 45-K, 19-HR, 63-RBI, 43-BB, .382/.477/.725/1.202

His bat led the way for his team to go to Omaha this year. Split most of his time between second and behind the plate. High marks for athleticism. Gets + defensive ratings both on second and as a catcher.

Plus speed in the field and down the line. Needs to work on his faming.

Plenty of power developing. Big tick-up this past season. Quick, compact swing. Solid bat speed. Above average bat-to-ball skills. Some of the best feel for the barrel in the 2027 class. Rarely hits groundballs. Uses all the field. There's the hope he'll continue to unlock more bat speed as he adds physicality.

Currently not projected as a future all-star, but developing into a 20+ home run hitting, average first, excellent defensive catcher. A true test for the Mets if he is still on the board and they are truly looking for a replacement someday for Francisco Alvarez.

 

7. Reds: Chris Levonas, RHP, Wake Forest

20/years old – 6-1/175 –

2026/WF  -     15-ST, 10-3, 2.82, 1.05, 73.1-IP, 33-BB, 116-K

Big mover down the mound. Up to 7+ foot extension. High leg kick and longer arm action. “All arms and legs” approach to pitching. Still, just average command (you wonder why???).

Repertoire:

            101-mph/2500 rpm fastball – Grade: 60

            83-mph/3000 rpm slider - +potential

            Upper 70s/3100 rpm 12-6 hammer curve – above average to plus

            90-mph changeup – average potential

            90-mph cutter

Few in this draft can compete with Levonas's bag of tricks. Fastball is his go-to pitch. Best secondary is his slider, which has huge whiff/chase rates.

He’s rated as the third best starter in this draft, which easily will earn him a first round pick. The team that drafts him will be very happy here.

 

Connor Salerno, LHP, Sun Valley HS (NC)

2026/Sun Valley HS     - 5-W, 1.25-ERA, 44.2-IP, 80-K.

Salerno is considered the top high school arm in this draft.

Three-pitch mix, consisting of a mid-90s (98) fastball, a low-80s slider, a spinning curve, and a changeup.

An absolute bulldog on the mound. Clean, respectable delivery. Lower-than-average slot. Commands fastball from both sides of the plate. Slider is main secondary pitch.

Loose, whippy arm. Good extension. Velocity and Stuff+ grades have jumped in last 12 months. Elite K-rate in 2026 (14.2).

Trust me… will never see the Wake campus again.