In desperate need of creating legitimate depth within their farm system, the New York Mets did exactly that at the 2022 MLB Draft on Sunday night with four selections.
All the while, they added just a bit more fuel to the speculation fire as trade rumors are hitting an all-time high with Juan Soto being available — and the Mets’ current top prospect and catcher, Francisco Alvarez, being a likely conversation starter with the Washington Nationals.
Let’s take a look at what New York has come away with.
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Round 1, Pick 11: Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech
- Age: 20
- MLB.com’s rank: 6
The position alone raises eyebrows considering Parada is the same age as Alvarez, who is MLB’s No. 2 ranked prospect, which suggests that the Mets would consider trading their prized youngster in a hypothetical Soto deal. However, Parada was drafted as the top talent available and that is predicated mostly on his bat.
His defense needs a lot of work, which means he might not even catch in the bigs, but MLB.com scouts him as a “potential .280-.300 hitter with 20-25 homers per season who could fit into the middle of a big league batting order.” That’s too good to pass up.
Round 1, Pick 14: Jett Williams, SS, Rockwall-Heath HS (Texas)
- Age: 18
- MLB.com’s rank: 21
A contact hitter with a solid glove, Williams makes up for his 5-foot-8 frame with intangibles that should translate well at the MLB level. His speed will give the Mets options, too, whether they want to keep him at short or potentially try him out in center field.
Round 2, Pick 52: Blade Tidwell, RHP, Tennessee
- Age: 21
- MLB.com’s rank: 27
It appears as though the Mets got one of the steals of the draft when Tidwell fell into their laps well into the second round.
The right-hander tops out a 99 mph and has a full arsenal of secondary pitches that is headlined by a changeup that got batters whiffing 39% of the time.
Round 2, Pick 75: Nick Morabito, OF, Gonzaga College HS (DC)
- Age: 19
- MLB.com’s rank: 91
Morabito rose up the ranks late to catch the Mets’ eye thanks to a short, compact swing and a frame that is “built like a football player.”
There is uncertainty about where he will play defensively, though, given his sub-par arm strength. He played shortstop but can move to second base, though the Mets list him as an outfielder.
