During Omar Minaya’s tenure as the Mets general manager, when the Amazin’s had a pick at the top of the annual First-Year Player Draft, they were known for drafting college players and for almost exclusively sticking to baseball’s recommended slotting system.
Now that Sandy Alderson has taken over as the team’s general manager, he will get his first chance to show what his draft philosophy will be with the Mets when the draft kicks off Monday night and the team makes its first selection at No. 13 overall. Here are some players that have been linked to the Mets in mock drafts over the last few weeks:
Levi Michael, SS, North Carolina
After drafting right-hander Matt Harvey with the seventh overall pick last year, the Mets have been linked with his former teammate this spring. Michael hit .313 with five homers, 48 RBIs and 14 steals in 15 attempts in 57 regular season games. There is some concern about whether or not he can stick at shortstop, but with a current need at second base and a possible one at short, if Jose Reyes is either traded or leaves as a free agent, it makes sense.
Brandon Nimmo, OF, East H.S., Cheyenne, Wy.
An athletic, left-handed outfielder, Nimmo should end up being the highest draft pick ever from the state of Wyoming. He has committed to play at Arkansas if he fails to sign, and probably will cost more than slot. If the Mets take him, it’s proof that they’re operating under a different philosophy than the past, when they primarily have avoided over-slot players.
Taylor Guerreri, RHP, Spring Valley H.S., Columbia, S.C.
As the 10th-best prospect in this year’s draft, according to Baseball America, Guerreri is the highest-ranked prospect to be linked with the Mets. Guerreri went 6-1 with a 1.10 ERA in nine starts this spring, striking out 72 and walking 23 in 51 innings. He can dial his fastball up to the high 90s, and also sports a power curveball. But there have been questions about his makeup, and he is committed to defending national champion South Carolina.
Mikie Mahtook, OF, LSU
Mahtook has been a fixture in LSU’s outfield over the past three years, helping the Tigers to a national championship as a freshman in 2009. Spending most of his time in center field, Mahtook hit .383 with 14 homers, 56 RBIs and 29 stolen bases in 38 attempts. He is ranked as the 21st overall prospect in the draft by Baseball America.
Alex Meyer, RHP, Kentucky
Much like Harvey last year, Meyer was a highly touted freshman who struggled at times through his first two years in college. But he put it together this year, going 7-5 with a 2.94 ERA, striking out 110 and walking 46 in 101 innings over 14 starts. At 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, Meyer is a powerful right-hander who throws his fastball in the high 90s and also throws a slider and changeup. He is ranked as the 19th best prospect by Baseball America.
Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt
Gray went 10-3 with a 2.12 ERA in 15 starts, striking out 112 and walking 39 in 101 2/3 innings this season as the ace on one of the top teams in the nation. The two main concerns about Gray, who Baseball America ranked as the 12th overall prospect in the draft, are his smaller-than-average 5-foot-11 frame and questions about whether his changeup can become a legitimate third pitch.