Round 1: Gavin Cecchini – There are quite a few Met fans who are angry with this decision. The Mets could have gone after Hawkins or Giolito… but I think that Gavin actually fits pretty well into the Met’s farm system. Obviously, the Mets are not gifted with a plethora of SS options in their minors (the draft will prove this point) as Ruben Tejada is the MLB short-stop and Wilfredo Tovar (Ruben Tejada Lite) is the only thing close to a prospect behind him (Port St. Lucie). Add to this the fact that Gavin is a runner who projects as a prototypical lead-off hitter. The Mets have a few options for that type of player but even Darrell Cecilianni isn’t an extreme base stealer. It was a good selection although not the sexiest choice that could have been made.
Supplemental Round 1: Kevin Plawecki – I got the sense that people were less upset about this one. Sure he hasn’t shown much power, but he has a contact oriented swing and he’s a bigger guy. Power might come… and it might not. He should hit like a right-handed Josh Thole. That isn’t exactly terrible. UPDATE: Reports are that a deal is already in motion. NICE!
Round 2: Matt Reynolds – This pick left me scratching my head. He’s got good defense at 3rd but a bat that doesn’t play unless he’s switched to SS or 2B. He’s a light hitting 3B who will hit line drives and WILL hit, but at a certain point the Mets need to have people who hit the ball with more authority.
Round 2: Teddy Stankiewicz – He already throws hard (up to 93 MPH) and there is reason to believe he can get the ball even faster with more conditioning. He also throws 4 pitches and projects as a guy who could land in the latter half of a rotation within 3-5 seasons. It was a solid pick but also a pick that leaves me a little bored. Picks that make me bored are often the best picks made.
Round 3: Matt Koch – This was a great pick. He’s a reliever who could be a high leverage guy down the road. The big key to Koch is he has a hard fastball and a sharp slider and could be in the majors in very short order.
Round 4: Brandon Kaupe – It seemed that people got more excited about this pick as they thought about it. He’s short (5’7”) and Hawaiian and he plays SS and is a switch hitter. Look at the video on him: Link. He has a solid swing and a solid frame. I don’t know if he can develop into a “Hitting SS” but he might. He also doesn’t strike out… EVER.
Round 5: Brandon Welch – A really good pick in the 5th. He might end up in relief but he has the “Stuff” to succeed as a starter if his 6’1” body can last through the innings. He’s already known as a dominating reliever and was regarded as a great closer candidate. My bet is that he winds up in relief.
Round 6: Jayce Boyd – A little like Matt Reynolds in that he isn’t hitting for power… YET. Boyd also has a big body and a really sweet swing. His swing seems to be a little be more naturally inclined towards power so I have higher hopes for him developing into a power hitter.
Round 7: Corey Oswalt – Drafted as a pitcher he also played SS. As a pitcher he’s already hitting 90 MPH and has good movement on his pitches. As a hitter he has quite a lot of power. I kinda wish the Mets wanted to use him as a hitter as this 6’4” SS with good contact and power is more intriguing than this solid framed pitcher with average stuff. If he were to stick as a hitter you can bet he’d move to 3rd.
Round 8: Tomas Nido – Mayo and ESPN don’t agree. ESPN writes that Nido has some power but a long swing and GOOD defensive abilities. Mayo doesn’t believe in the defense. Either way this was an 8th round pick and I’d seen Nido ranked as the #9 catcher in the draft.
Round 9: Richie Rodriguez – Sorta strikes me as Danny Muno. He has little power with some speed and solid contact.
Round 10: Paul Sewald – He’s a tall thin guy with a thin build. He’s got sink on his fastball and an 11/5 curveball that should play as he rises through the ranks. Need to get more information on his velocity before I know much more.
Round 11: Logan Taylor – He’s a big guy who is still very up in the air. If the Mets manage to sign him I can easily see him being a steal with a FB already in the low 90s and a sharp breaking (if wild) curveball.
Round 12: Robert Whalen – Seems like the standard ilk of a 12th rounder. He has a decent fastball and little else. His fastball will need to improve and his breaking pitches will need to develop for him to be worth anything.
Round 13: Matthew Bowman – The general scouting report of low 88-89 with a height disadvantage doesn’t sound great. Apparently he threw 95 in a Met workout though. If that’s true… I’m happy.
Round 14: Chris Flexen – He’s only 17… he throws 93. There is some “effort” in his delivery but this is not the kind of guy I expect to find in the 14th round. Could be a bargain!
Round 15: Nicholas Grant – There isn’t a lot of information available. He’s got a good frame and had a lot of success through high school. Gave a decent interview to a local paper after an impressive game.
Count me as one who wasn’t thrilled with the Cecchini pick. BA said scouts were mixed on his hitting ability and I’d much rather have more certainty with a hitter at #12. If they wanted upside, I’d much rather that they have picked Giolito.
Giolito had some of the biggest risks attached to him. Gavin is no sure thing, but he’s got a shot at being an every day short-stop and leading off for the team.