Draft Forecast: New York Mets

Nathan Rode

National Supervisor

TEAM: New York Mets

PICK: 6 (Slot: $5,525,200)

POOL: $9,580,900

SCOUTING DIRECTOR: Marc Tramuta

PREVIOUS TOP PICKS

2017: David Peterson, LHP, Oregon (20th overall)

2016: Justin Dunn, RHP, Boston College (19th overall)

2015: Desmond Lindsay, OF, Out-Of-Door Academy, FL (53rd overall, 2nd round)

2014: Michael Conforto, OF, Oregon State (10th overall)

2013: Dominic Smith, 1B, Junipero Serra HS, CA (11th overall)

HISTORY: In 2013, the Mets took high schoolers with their first four picks and have leaned heavily toward college guys at the top since. Their last three first-round picks have been college arms in LHP David Peterson (Oregon), RHP Justin Dunn (Boston College) and LHP Anthony Kay (Connecticut).

FORECAST: LHP Matthew Liberatore (Mountain Ridge HS, AZ) and OF Jarred Kelenic (Waukesha West HS, WI) are likely the only high school prospects in consideration here, but chances are the Mets will go the college route. They’ll have their pick of who’s left among 2B Nick Madrigal (Oregon State), SS Jonathan India (Florida), LHP Ryan Rolison (Mississippi), LHP Shane McClanahan (South Florida), OF Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama), C Joey Bart (Georgia Tech) and 3B Alec Bohm (Wichita State).

Nick Madrigal, 2B, Oregon State

PBR Draft Board: 4

HIT: 45/55 POWER: 40/50 SPEED: 60/60 DEFENSE: 50/55 ARM: 50/50

Madrigal is just coming back from an injury to his wrist that kept him out for a good chunk of the season, but he has picked up very much where he left off. His quick hands and pitch recognition allow him to put aggressive swings on any pitch early or ahead in counts, and he makes adjustments later to spray the ball to all fields. He is quick and agile at second base with clean hands and a quick release. The arm plays average, but is accurate. He has superior instincts and always appears to be several steps ahead. (Shooter Hunt)

Find Madrigal's full report in the Draft HQ.

Jonathan India, 3B, Florida

PBR Draft Board: 5

HIT: 40/55 POWER: 40/55 SPEED: 60/60 DEFENSE: 50/60 ARM: 55/60

India is a complete player who possesses an unmatched combination of tools, skills and instincts of any college infielder in this year’s draft. Jeremy Eierman may have bigger tools and Nick Madrigal more skills, but India has both. He is a plus athlete with good body control and an above average to plus arm. He is a pus runner underway and has very good bat speed. He shows above average raw power in batting practice and got to that power in the game with his ability to recognize pitches and consistently get his best swing off each at-bat. (David Seifert)

Find India's full report in the Draft HQ.

Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama

PBR Draft Board: 12

HIT: 40/55 POWER: 30/45 SPEED: 60/60 DEFENSE: 50/60 ARM: 60/60

Swaggerty has a Brett Gardner frame and is an athletic center fielder with tools, baseball skills and instincts. Despite hitting off balance—a result of a narrow base and long stride—he keeps his hands back and connected to his hips. He has explosive, strong hands and uses his hips well. He swings easy and whistles the bat through the zone. He is smooth defensively, consistently running strong routes to go with his easy, plus speed. (David Seifert)

Find Swaggerty's full report in the Draft HQ.

Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech

PBR Draft Board: 13

HIT: 30/40 POWER: 30/50 SPEED: 50/40 DEFENSE: 50/60 ARM: 60/70

Bart has a large, durable frame and brings a physical presence to the field. His defensive skills, arm strength and raw power separate him from the other catchers in the college draft class. In addition to plus arm strength, he set up tight behind the batter, showed a very quick and easy catch/throw transfer with a smooth release and accurate throws with good carry to second base between innings. Offensively, he showed plus raw pull power with bat strength. He displayed average bat speed in BP, but it was more slider bat speed in the game, as opposing pitchers were slowing it down with an offspeed mix. He sets up in an upright, slightly open stance and creates some length with a bat tilt toward the pitcher for his load. (David Seifert)

Find Bart's full report in the Draft HQ.

Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State

PBR Draft Board: 14

HIT: 40/50 POWER: 40/60 SPEED: 40/30 DEFENSE: 40/45 ARM: 50/55

Bohm is a tall, power-hitting infielder, who has a chance to impact the game with his bat. He has a selective aggressive approach with good balance, strength and above-average bat speed. The swing is free, easy and compact for a man his size. Defensively, he showed fair actions and hands at third base with average range. He worked hard during pregame BP, taking dozens of groundballs in all directions. He has a high center of gravity and will need to work even harder on a daily basis to stick at the hot corner. (David Seifert)

Find Bohm's full report in the Draft HQ.

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