Draft Talk: Looking for the next Steven Matz

The last time the Mets were without a first round pick (2009) they selected Steven Matz a left-handed pitcher from Sony Brook, NY.  Matz had fallen to the second round for two reasons, he was a player from the Northeast (an area that you can’t play baseball year-round) and he had an awkward delivery that was destined to lead him to injury.  Omar Minaya was ridiculed for selecting Matz, who quickly injured himself and would not pitch significant innings until 2013.  The silver lining here is that Minaya saw in Matz potential that went beyond all the risk that was evident.  Now, in 2015, Matz looks like a front-line starter who will be vying for headlines with Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard.

The Met’s first pick sits at 53^rd in the draft.  There is some possibility that a player ranked higher than 40^th will drop that low but that player is unlikely to sign with a team with 53^rd pick bonus money to spend.  The following players are on my short list as players Alderson should be looking at.

Kyle Cody, RHP (Junior, Kentucky) – Cody is a big kid at 6’7” and 245 Lbs.  He also has a big-league fastball that sits in the 93-96 MPH range.  He’s compared with Alex Meyer and could go much earlier in the draft but MLB.com has him ranked 41^st, which sneaks him into the fringe of the Met’s realm of options.

Chris Shaw, OF (Junior, Boston College) – The Mets have already drafted Shaw once.  He declined their offer back in 2012.  Shaw is a powerful corner outfielder and might be moved to firstbase as his speed is pretty awful.  He’s ranked 42^nd on MLB.com’s list of prospects.

Austin Smith, RHP (Senior, Park Vista HS) – Smith is younger and might have more potential.  He’s got a solid build and an easy delivery.  He’s committed to Florida Atlantic but could say yes if drafted in the 2^nd round.  He’s ranked 44^th by MLB.com.

Tyler Nevin, 3B (Senior, Poway HS) – Nevin is the son of Phil Nevin.  Something tells me he’ll be off the board before the Mets draft despite only being ranked 46^th.  Nevin is one of the most advanced hitting prospects at the highschool level and comes with a reputation for both contact and power.

Donnie Dewees, OF (Sophomore, North Florida) – Dewees is a bit older but is one of the only all-around players that are ranked within the realm of likely possibilities.  He’s already 22 though and that is may be why he ranks only 51^st on the list.

Luken Baker, RHP/1B (Senior, Oak Ridge HS) – Baker projects better than his 58^th ranking as both a hitter and a pitcher.  He scouts as having the best power of any prospect the Mets would have access to but he’s more likely to be drafted as a pitcher.

Demi Orimoloye, OF (Senior, St. Matthews HS) – He’s Canadian which might explain why he’s ranked this low in the draft.  At 64^th on the list the Mets should have the option of selecting him and if his scouting grades are accurate, it wouldn’t be a bad move either.

Assuming that Cody is off the board (because I think he’d be a steal for the Mets at 53^rd) I’d have my sights set on Austin Smith, Tyler Nevin, Luken Baker and Demi Orimoloye.  I think these four players have an interesting mix of reward and risk.  We shall have to wait and see whom Michael Cuddyer winds up costing us.