10/25/26

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:

 

Chase Fuller - SS/RHP - Lincoln HS (Fla.)

6-3/205 – RHH

Career – 100-G, .313/.470/.488, 8-HR, 47-RBI

    2026 -  . 35-G, .327/.514

Son of NFL star, Corey Fuller.

Perfect Game ranked him as the number one high school prospect in this draft. Baseball America has him as a 5-star prospect.

Offense wise, straight stance with short stride. Rotates violently behind his lead leg with a remarkably quick barrel through the zone. Swings hard and has big bat speed. Not much swing-and-miss… yet. Exit speed clocked at 103. Owns some of the best raw power for the HS class eligible in this draft. Potential for 30+ home run seasons. Also, fast. 6.39 second 60-yard dash.

Defense wise, arm strength is his top tool. Does throw a fastball up to 99, so there is a possibility of him being a 2-way player. Primarily a shortstop but is projected to move to third as he beefs up.

Pitching wise, used as a closer. Fastball is primary pitch.

Me?

First, if the Mets want to draft Fuller, they better pick early. This is one of the top players in this season’s crop of elite players.

Steans is well known for picking ‘the best player available’ but even he might admit that the current Mets have enough middle infield prospects for a while. Add to that the fact that the Mes don’t develop two-way players plus you would never ‘waste’ a first round pick on a reliever, I would pass here and move on to one of the other top players in this draft.

 

Carter Hadnot, SS, Aquinas HS (Calif.)

18/yrs, old - 6-2/175 – SWH –

Perfect Game had him ranked as the 5th top HS prospect for this draft. Baseball America has him as a 5-start prospect.

Offense wise, medium, straight stance from both sides. Knee raised trigger. Very fast hands. Keen ability to back-spin the ball. Short, quick swing from both sides. Right now, contact over power but that will change in the future. Little more polished on the left side. Flatter swing on right. 6.54-60yd. Lots of physical projection remains.

Defense wise, pure middle-fielder. Fluid movements through the ball. Plenty of arm strength and more to come. Quick, twitchy hands. Projected to be a high-level defender. One of the top defensive infielders in the draft. Should stick on short.

Will be 19.2 on draft day. Announced on 10-20 that he was committed to Oklahoma which makes you wonder if he will opt out of the draft. I mean, why commit this late and then turn pro?

Me?

Again, I don’t need to draft a shortstop this early. Plus, in this NIL world, he can go to school and hone his craft there.

Hadnot is very talented, but I would pass.

 

Kinon Bastian, OF/2B, The First Academy (Fla.)

17/years old - 5-11/180 – RHH

33-G, .397, .529-OBP, 31-H, 18-RBI, 35-R

Lean and strong athlete. Compact build who runs well. MVP in 17U UBC East. Perfect Game grade: 10.

Offense wise, pretty swing and potential plus raw power. Medium, open stance. Regular 100+ EV's. 6.67 runner in the sixty. 101.8 exit velo. Standout bat speed and power. Power to all fields. One of fastest hands in draft class. Highly athletic with a strong combination of speed and strength.

Defense wise, solid arm. Center field athleticism and speed. Outfield throws low-to-mid 90s. Overall, rates as a solid defender in the outfield with a strong arm.

Me?

I love strong defensive outfielders so Bastion checks that box. The only downside I see here is no one is bragging on the amount of home runs he had at the high school level. Still, he shows power to all the fields and time plus development can create more balls going over the walls of baseball.

I would consider drafting Kinon and would assign a scout to follow him closely during his senior year.


2 comments:

TexasGusCC said...

I don’t know that Stearns would draft a high school player. What did we hear a couple of years back about him wanting college guys?

And, if I pick a player like Bastion that high, I assign two scouts and don’t tell each other anything.

Paul Articulates said...

Not surprising to see so many SS in the list, as the best athlete on high school teams is usually the SS. Even though we have a surplus of talented middle infielders, the best available player always presents opportunities so I would not hesitate to pick one if their mental game is solid.