The 2019 MLB Draft kicks off Monday night, with teams gathering in Secaucus, New Jersey for the first two rounds of this year's festivities.
Coming off a 77-85 campaign last year, the Mets own the 12th pick of the first round. While no one knows what Brodie Van Wagenen will do with his first draft pick as general manager, the buzz around New York is that the new GM will likely target one of the nation's most talented college players Monday night.
The top college talent in the draft, such as Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman, Vanderbilt outfielder J.J. Bleday and TCU pitcher Nick Lodolo, will likely all be off the board by the time the Mets are on the clock. But that doesn't mean New York won't still be able to land one of the country's premier players.
Here are a few players the Mets may target with the 12th overall pick of the 2019 MLB Draft.
LHP Zack Thompson, Kentucky
Thompson has been linked to the Mets more than any other prospect in this year's draft. The left-hander was selected by Tampa Bay in the 11th round of the 2016 draft, but instead chose to honor his commitment to Kentucky. The 6-foot-3 starter struggled with injuries early on in his college career, but really came into his own during his junior season.
In 14 starts, Thompson went 6-1 with a 2.40 ERA over 90.0 innings while racking up 130 strikeouts with just 34 walks. Opposing hitters were held to a .184 batting average against the southpaw, and Thompson was even more impressive going up against tough competition in the SEC, earning a 2.27 ERA in 67.1 innings against conference opponents.
Thompson's fastball tops out at 96 mph, and his repertoire also features a plus slider and curve, as well as a changeup.
RHP George Kirby, Elon
This would be the second time the Mets draft Kirby, as the club selected him in the 32nd round of the 2016 draft out of Rye High School in Rye, New York. The right-hander decided to follow through with his commitment to Elon, however, and the decision has seemingly paid off big.
After a rough freshman season, Kirby returned to his dominant ways over the last two years. The 6-foot-4 righty went 10-3 with a 2.89 ERA as a sophomore, and followed that up by going 8-2 with a 2.75 ERA and a .221 opponents batting average in 88.1 innings as a junior, collecting 107 strikeouts with a mere six walks.
Kirby uses a mix of four pitches to attack hitters. His fastball sits in the mid-90s while topping out around 97 mph, and his changeup tends to be his most consistent secondary pitch. Kirby is a work in progress, as his curveball and slider could use some work, but there is no denying the upside the young right-hander has.
RHP Alek Manoah, West Virginia
Chances are Manoah doesn't make it all the way to 12, but if he does, Van Wagenen may jump up to the podium to announce the pick himself. Manoah also has some previous ties to the Mets, as his brother, Erik, was traded by the Mets to the Angels in the trade that brought Fernando Salas to Queens.
Manoah was absolutely dominant in 108.1 innings for West Virginia this year. The 6-foot-6, 260-pound right-hander was 9-4 with a 2.08 ERA in 16 starts, striking out 144 hitters to go with just 27 walks, while keeping opposing hitters to a .186 batting average. His first two collegiate seasons were not nearly as strong as his 2019 campaign, but with a similar physical frame as Noah Syndergaard, the Mets would love the opportunity to develop Manoah in the organization's farm system.
Manoah mostly relies on his fastball, which sits in the 94-97 mph range, but is known for having a filthy slider that has a ton of movement. He occasionally has some command issues, but considering his frame and collection of pitches, Manoah could end up being the best pitcher in this year's draft.
C Shea Langeliers, Baylor
The Mets have been linked most to college pitchers, but would it really surprise any of us if Van Wagenen pulled the trigger on a premier catcher? Langeliers was drafted in the 34th round of the 2016 draft by Toronto, but decided to attend Baylor instead, where he was starting behind the plate from day one.
Langeliers has always been great behind the plate. The catcher has shown plus traits defensively for years, consistently putting up strong defensive numbers while at Baylor. Standing in at 6-foot-0, 190 pounds, Langeliers isn't the biggest catcher. However, he has put up good power numbers during his collegiate years, reaching double-digit home runs every season. In 43 games this year, the junior hit .315/.381/.541 with 10 home runs and 42 RBIs.
Langeliers certainly helped his draft stock over the weekend when he went 5-for-6 with a double, three home runs and an NCAA tournament record 11 RBI in Baylor's game Saturday. While a pitcher is still the more likely pick, the Mets could end up choosing to go with Langeliers.
Other possibilities: SS Bryson Stott, UNLV; OF Corbin Carroll, Lakeside High School (WA); RHP Jackson Rutledge, San Jacinto Junior College; 3B Josh Jung, Texas Tech
