The 2014 Draft: An early look for the New York Mets

Next year’s Major League’s Annual First-Year Player Draft is scheduled for June 5th. The Mets pick 10th. The order of the top 10 follows:

1 – Astros
2 – Marlins
3 – White Sox
4 – Cubs
5 – Twins
6 – Mariners
7 – Phillies
8 – Rockies
9 – Blue Jays
10 – Mets

The predictions for picks one through seven already seem to be shaping up in a fairly consistent order:

1 – Carlos Rodon (LHP) – North Carolina
2 – Jeff Hoffman (RHP) – East Carolina
3 – Jacob Gatewood (3B) – California (High School)
4 – Alex Jackson (C/OF) – California (High School)
5 – Tyler Kolek (RHP) – Texas (High School)
6 – Brady Aiken (LHP) – California (High School)
7 – Braxton Davidson (1B/OF) – North Carolina (High School)

The predictions get a bit murkier after these first seven players. Granted, its early but is it too early to speculate on whom the Mets might choose with their first round pick?

There are some names which appear on some lists but not consistently on all the lists out there. Baseball America considers high school level pitchers to be a particular strength in this year’s draft as well as college-level hitters. As of right now, there are two “up-the-middle” infielders projected to be in their top fifty: Trea Turner (shortstop from North Carolina State) and Max Pentecost (catcher from Kennesaw State).

Some players the Mets might consider drafting are:

Trea Turner – North Carolina: Turner played shortstop last year. I’ve seen Turner ranked as high as the number two pick overall. He suffered an ankle injury this year but has good speed; as a freshman in 2012, he led the college ranks with 57 successful steals in 61 attempts. He is 6’1″ and weighs 171 pounds. He played third base in his freshman season. Overall he possesses splendid athletic ability. In 2011, he was selected in the 20th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates but did not sign with them.

Dylan Cease – Georgia High School: Cease is a right-handed pitcher. I’ve seen Cease ranked as high as the seventh pick overall. He is 6’2″ and weighs in at 180 pounds. He possesses a fastball clocked at up to 97 mph. He throws a 12/6 curveball along with a change-up but he is still working on his command.

Sean Newcomb – Hartford: Newcomb is a left-handed pitcher. I’ve seen Newcomb ranked as high as the tenth pick overall. He had an outstanding Cape Cod campaign. Prior to that, he worked 72 innings at the college level, struck out 92 batters while walking only 32. He stands 6’5″ and weighs in at 240 pounds. He can throw four pitches and owns a mid-90s fastball.

Justus Sheffield – Tennessee High School: Sheffield is a left-handed pitcher. I’ve seen Sheffield ranked as high as the eleventh pick overall. He can hit 95 mph with his fastball. He is 6′ 2″ and he weighs 195 pounds. His brother, Jordon also plays ball. They are not related to Gary Sheffield. He has developed good command and can also throw off-speed pitches effectively.

Derek Fisher – Virginia: Fisher is an outfielder. I’ve seen Fisher ranked as high as the sixth pick overall. He is a lefthand power hitter. He stands 6’3″ and weighs 210 pounds. After a solid collegiate season, he added a very good showing in the Cape Cod League, hitting .333 with six doubles and 13 stolen bases there. Some scouts consider him to be the best pure hitter in the draft but are not convinced on his defensive ability or his throwing arm.

Touki Toussaint – Florida High School: Toussaint is a right-handed pitcher. I’ve seen Toussaint ranked as high as the fifth pick overall. He stands 6’2″ and weighs 195 pounds. He carries a consistent mid-90s fastball, can throw a curveball but is still learning command.

Tyler Beede – Vanderbilt: Beede is a right-handed pitcher. I’ve seen Beede ranked as high as the seventh pick overall. He is 6’4″ and weighs 215 pounds. He owns three plus pitches but still has to develop command consistency. This past year, he was a finalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. At Vanderbilt, he matched David Price’s school record of an 11-0 start to a season.

So the questions now are how do these players perform during the upcoming baseball season? Where do these players end up being actually ranked as draft day nears? What are the drafting strategies of the teams choosing ahead of us? What are the organizational strengths of the teams choosing ahead of us?