Review: First Ten Rounds of Mets Draft
Note: This is a post by Kyle Schnitzer, a new contributor here at MetsToday. Please direct any comments to him. And please don’t scare him away (yet). – Joe
After making noise with their first two selections of the 2011 MLB Draft, the New York Mets have approached the second day of the draft with their conservative approach.
Brandon Nimmo, the Mets first round selection, will cost money, as will Michael Fulmer, their supplementary round selection.
With their 2nd round selection, the New York Mets selected Cory Mazzoni, a right-handed pitcher from North Carolina St.; Mazzoni has had a solid season for the Wolfpack. Listed at 6-1, 194 lbs, Mazzoni has compiled a 6-6 record with a 3.30 ERA. The most interesting stat has to be the 137 strikeouts in 114 2/3 innings of work. He projects to be starting pitcher, who can bring the fastball up to 97 MPH, to accompany a hard breaking ball.
The Mets selected right-handed pitcher Logan Verrett, another college arm, from Baylor University with the 3rd round selection. Considered one of the top pitching prospects of the draft, Verrett struggled this season. To his credit, he did have success in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Chatham Anglers. A big righty, standing at 6-3, 185 lbs; Verrett has room to grow and that’s what the Mets have to love. He sits at 89-82, occasionally topping 95, with a nasty sinking change up.
Tyler Pill, another right-hander from the college ranks, pitched for Cal St. Fullerton. The Mets made him their 4th round selection after Pill’s impressive season for the Titans, going 7-1 with a 2.28 ERA. Another product who played in the Cape Cod Baseball League, Pill is a two way player who can swing the bat. He is projected to pitch for the Mets.
A head scratching pick in the 5th round, when the Mets pulled the trigger on UMass-Lowell lefthander Jack Leathersich. Most recently, the Mets drafted a D-2 arm from the northeast in Darin Gorski, from Kutown (PA) who is seeing success this season. Leathersich is projected to be a bullpen arm, in all honesty, a left-handed specialist. He has command issues, walking 19 in 43 innings.
The Mets returned to the high school ranks in the 6th round, selection Joe Tuschak. Hailing from Northern York Senior High School, Tuschak could be a hard one to pry away from school. Committed to Coastal Carolina, Tuschak hit .487 with 9 homeruns and 30 RBI in 78 at-bats.
As the lightning rounds started, the Mets drafted first basemen Cole Frenzel from Arizona. Frenzel batted .353 with 3 homeruns and 48 RBI. He’s not going to hit for power but that could change. Following Frenzel, Danny Muno, a senior shortstop from Fresno St. The Bulldog had a good season, hitting 3 homeruns and finishing second on the team with 52 RBI. He has some fielding issues, as Muno finished the season with 13 errors, giving him a fielding percentage of .897.
Alex Panteliodis, from Flordia, was selected in the 9th round. Pitching out of the SEC, Panteliodis held opponents to a .251 batting average. A 6’2” 230 lbs left-hander, Panteliodis looks like another relief pitcher.
In the 10th round, the Mets selected Matt Budgell, a high-school pitcher from Woodbrige HS in California. Selected for the Area Code Games, Budgell’s fastball sits at 86-88. He has a change up and a breaking ball. If any pick is projectable, Budgell is the definition. He’s 6’3” 155 lbs, clearly room for development. The Mets will have to go over slot in order to sign Budgell. Budgell is verbally committed to California St. Fullerton.
Next up, rounds 11-20.
