The Mets on Monday night selected Brett Baty, a power-hitting third baseman out of Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, with the 12th overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft.
Baty, 19, is 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds and bats left-handed. He hit .624 with 19 home runs this past season, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
"I'm just so happy to be picked right now," Baty, who was in attendance at the draft in Secaucus, New Jersey, told MLB Network. "I'm thankful to get the invite to the draft, and I'm just so happy right now I can't even explain it."
Here's what some online scouting reports were saying about Baty leading up to the draft.
MLB.com:
Baty possesses some of the best raw power in the 2019 Draft, the product of bat speed, strength and loft in his left-handed swing. He's also more of an advanced hitter than just a pure masher. A Texas recruit who would be eligible for the 2021 Draft as a sophomore, he makes repeated hard contact, isn't fooled by breaking pitches and doesn't get caught selling out for power.
Perfect Game:
Big and strong physical build, pretty mature physically. Left handed hitter, sets up with his hands close to his body, good flow into his swing, has lift out front, creates very good bat speed at times, pull and lift approach, drives off his back hip well, best when he gets extended through contact. 7.23 runner, has good footwork at third base with playable arm strength, balanced athletic actions. Bat is his tool.
Last Word on Baseball:
Brett Baty has a chance to develop into one of the better hitters in major league baseball. He already possesses amazing raw power which ranks among the best in the class. At age 19, he should only continue to develop that power as he gets older. Most power hitters struggle with making contact, but Baty has an impressive hit tool with the ability to drive the ball to all portions of the field.
With the 53rd overall pick, in the second round, the Mets selected another Texas high schooler -- right-handed pitcher Josh Wolf of St. Thomas High in Houston.
The Baltimore Orioles selected Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman with the first overall pick. With the 30th overall pick, the Yankees selected Anthony Volpe, a shortstop from Delbarton High School in Morristown, New Jersey.
