NFT: Mets Draft thread: July 14th to July 16th

I would hope he either develops more power if he stays as a corner OFer or can take over CF if he doesn't to fit the prototypes for those positions, but the scouting report looks good (since I knew very little about him).

They're talking about him being the most polarizing player in the draft now on ESPN.

In comment 16553445 Optimus-NY said:

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They're talking about him being the most polarizing player in the draft now on ESPN.

That makes sense, because he's got high upside but high bust potential.

Caminiti to Atlanta

goes 19th. pretty solid work.

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In comment 16553453 Metnut said:

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no idea but it sounds like a slot pick. went right around where ranked, not a HS player.

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Anyone got an opinion on what the Mets should or will do?

§

Joe DeMayo
@PSLToFlushing

I am not sure if he intended to break this news in his post-draft media availability, but new Met Carson Benge mentioned that his college roommate and close friend Nolan McLean is giving up hitting and will just pitch going forward

9:22 PM · Jul 14, 2024 · 61K Views

Jonathan Santucci
LHP
DUKE
DOB:
12-28-2002
Height:
6-2
Weight:
205

Scouting Report
Bats: L, Throws: L

Santucci has first-round stuff, but he missed the last half of the 2023 spring with a fractured elbow and has had control issues throughout his time at Duke, including a 14 percent walk rate this spring. He’s 92-95 and typically shows a plus slider and above-average changeup, although he barely uses the latter pitch, and when I caught him against Wake Forest in March he didn’t have any feel for the slider. His draft status is probably more a function of what teams see in his medical reports than what the scouts and analysts say. He missed several starts in May with a rib injury, returning for a two-inning, 37-pitch start in the Regionals, where he sat 95-96.

need to figure out how to get him in the zone more. someone else said there's a lot of upside here, teams thought entering the year he could be round 1 but then had the injuries. 3 plus pitches sometimes, very athletic, needs polishing.

We'll pick this up tomorrow in the third round, starting from the 75th overall pick. Mets pick 82nd in Round #3 (eighth pick in the third round).

Day #2 - Rounds 3 to 10. It'll start at 2 pm EDT.

2024 DRAFT TRACKER - MLB.com - Sorted by team: Mets - ( New Window )

METS SELECT TWO-WAY PLAYER CARSON BENGE WITH 19TH OVERALL PICK - Posted by Jack Ramsey | Jul 14, 2024


METS SELECT DUKE LHP JONATHAN SANTUCCI WITH THE 46TH OVERALL PICK - Posted by Matt Mancuso | Jul 14, 2024

because the Mets drafted a hurler from Duke?

And his friendship with McLean
Link - ( New Window )

In comment 16553435 Eric on Li said:

Quote:

so im in. i like getting getting a 2 way player who can focus on one side going forward. in zone whiff is very low and apparently that cant be taught per kiley. sounds like a solid pick.

That sounds familiar… lol

“ A
DanMetroMan : 7/13/2024 11:42 am : link : reply
major point of concern in regard to optimism with Parada (and Houck has a similar red flag)... in zone whiff rates. If you're swinging and missing at pitches out of the zone, that's something that's "easier" to correct. We've seen plenty of free swingers become more selective. Missing pitches IN the strike zone at a high level has been proven to be far more difficult to correct.”

I am neutral on the Benge pick (mostly because the next groundball oppo heavy guy Mets hitting PD gets to lift and pull more will be the first in awhile) and love the Santucci pick

In comment 16553512 DanMetroMan said:

Quote:

I am neutral on the Benge pick (mostly because the next groundball oppo heavy guy Mets hitting PD gets to lift and pull more will be the first in awhile) and love the Santucci pick

Who would you have gone with in the 1st?

FWIW, the highlights on him on MLBTV had him pulling the ball quite well. Obviously, SSS as it was 2-3 highlights. They did note that he needed to work on inside pitches better. Hopefully with a 60 hit tool, that's something he can improve on (they seemed to think he would)

Consensus is that Benge is going to need to learn to pull the ball more in the air to be an impact bat so Seidler isn’t alone there. Law’s report made a similar note.

Similar comment from prospects live pre draft

“ 22. BALTIMORE ORIOLES - OF CARSON BENGE

SLOT VALUE: $3,802,200

Baltimore has liked Culpepper and Honeycutt, though, with one gone and the other having legitimate hit tool concerns, the Orioles may pivot to Benge. Benge's swing is a bit of a project, though Baltimore's hitting development would be perfect for him. It's an extremely fun fit.”

to a prospect writer, he said he's heard the Mets are projecting McLean as a RPer and think he can be a good one. No indication that switch is imminent however.

Headshot of Carson Benge
15. Carson Benge
OF / RHP

Ht: 6'1" | Wt: 184 | B-T: L-R

Age: null

School: Oklahoma State Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
BA Grade: 50/High
Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Run: 50. Field: 50. Arm: 60.

Benge redshirted in 2022 during his first season with Oklahoma State as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He has both hit and pitched for the program in each of the last two seasons, though his focus and the bulk of his playing time has come as a hitter. A 6-foot-1, 184-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter, Benge has hit well over .300 in both of his seasons in the Big 12 Conference, with great plate discipline and solid power to go along with his contact skills. He has a noisy swing that features a wide and open setup, a sizable leg kick and some hand movement throughout his load, but he’s made it work in college with a solid 82% overall contact rate and more than enough bat speed to handle big league velocity. Benge might need to quiet his operation at the next level, but his combination of bat-to-ball skills and impact provides a solid foundation for a quality hit-and-power pair. Benge has mostly played right field and probably is best suited for that position given his plus arm and average speed, but scouts think he is a standout athlete who might be able to handle all three outfield spots. On the mound, Benge has a four-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball, upper-70s curve, mid-80s changeup and low-80s slider. He was most effective as a reliever with Oklahoma State, but his pro upside is greater as a hitter—the opposite of 2023 Mets third-rounder and former OSU two-way player Nolan McLean.

32. Jonathan Santucci
LHP

Ht: 6'2" | Wt: 205 | B-T: L-L

Age: null

School: Duke Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade: 55/Extreme
Tools: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 40.

Santucci flashed big-time upside in each of his first two seasons at Duke, but he was limited as a hybrid starter/reliever as a freshman and then started just seven games in 2023 thanks to a season-ending elbow surgery. He finally worked a complete season as a starter for the Blue Devils in 2024, when he served as the team’s Friday night ace and posted a 3.41 ERA in 13 starts and 58 innings with a 35% strikeout rate and 14% walk rate. Santucci was one of the most electric pitchers in the country through the first three weeks of the season but began struggling with control as he entered Atlantic Coast Conference play. He also dealt with a rib injury in May. He’s a strong and athletic southpaw with a 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame and quality three-pitch mix. Santucci’s fastball sits 93-95 mph, touches 97 and has above-average riding life and bat-missing qualities, but his command of the pitch leaves a lot to be desired. He has better feel for a mid-80s slider that features snappy two-plane break at its best, but he would also overthrow the pitch at times to find the strike zone, which meant hitters could find success sitting on it. His upper-80s changeup has late tumbling action and fade and above-average potential, but he threw it just 9% of the time this spring. Santucci’s below-average control creates reliever risk, but he offers first-round stuff for a team that thinks it can help him improve his command.

In comment 16553514 KDavies said:

Quote:

In comment 16553512 DanMetroMan said: Quote: I am neutral on the Benge pick (mostly because the next groundball oppo heavy guy Mets hitting PD gets to lift and pull more will be the first in awhile) and love the Santucci pick Who would you have gone with in the 1st?

also curious about this ? DMM. Would you have gone Benge or someone else how the board fell?

.
Link - ( New Window )

5 tool type CF long term, just a baseball player, extremely athletic, approach inthe box, makes a lot of contact, plus power in BP.
https://x.com/SNYtv/status/1812681417525964881 - ( New Window )

a nearly impossible question to answer without seeing what some of these guys sign for but Benge was a completely solid pick there, went in the range he was expected to go and has pretty high floor, with a reasonably high "sum of parts" ceiling. Culpepper was the one guy I didn't love who was being tied to them. I'm jealous LAD landed Lindsay where they did.

writer I speak to ranks Santucci, the Mets 4th best pitching prospect (he doesn't count Christian Scott as a prospect) behind Sproat, Tong, and Tidwell (likes his upside more than Tidwell's but concerns with his durability)

Best available players for Day 2
Peyton Stovall, 2B, Arkansas (ranked No. 34)
Kevin Bazzell, C/3B, Texas Tech (No. 35)
Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State (No. 49)
D’Marion Terrell, OF, Thompson HS, AL (No. 52)
Gage Miller, 3B, Alabama (No. 54)
Carson Wiggins, RHP, Roland HS, OK (No. 55)
Jared Jones, 1B, LSU (No. 57)
Connor Gatwood, RHP, Baker HS, AL (No. 61)
Dax Whitney, RHP, Blackfoot HS, ID (No. 63)
Mike Sirota, OF, Northeastern (No. 65)

Carlos Collazo
Verified

@CarlosACollazo
Best available players for day 2:

35. OF Dakota Jordan
41. RHP Drew Beam
45. RHP Dax Whitney
49. RHP Joey Oakie
53. OF Garrett Shull
57. RHP Tegan Kuhns
63. 3B Carson DeMartini
64. SS Colby Shelton
66. LHP Ryan Prager
68. C/3B Kevin Bazzell

One player that intrigues me on Day 2 if signable is Alaska HS C Coen Niclai. He has shown some power in workouts and held is own in MLB Draft League despite facing much more experienced/older competition.

ranks Niclai #413

413. Coen Niclai
C

Ht: 6'2" | Wt: 213 | B-T: R-R

Age: null

School: Service HS, Anchorage, Ala. Commit/Drafted: Oregon
Age At Draft: 18.6
It’s rare to have prominent prospects from Alaska but Niclai is an intriguing catcher from the state with a powerful 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame and some tools to go with it. His raw power and arm strength are the calling cards of the profile and both tools are either above-average now or are easy projections to be in the near future. He’ll need to work to stick behind the plate because of his size and the fact that his actions are a bit light for the position currently. If he doesn’t catch he’ll move off to first base or a corner outfield spot as a well below-average runner which changes the complexion of his profile significantly. Niclai performed on the circuit and also played in Arizona during the 2024 spring so he’s been seen by decision makers more than you might expect for an Alaskan player. He’s committed to Oregon.

is Tears whom Collazo suggested could be a Mets pick here


Headshot of Kavares Tears
83. Kavares Tears
OF

Ht: 6'0" | Wt: 205 | B-T: L-L

Age: null

School: Tennessee Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.9
BA Grade: 50/Extreme
Tools: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 60.

Tears is a big, muscular 6-foot, 200-pound outfielder who has put together back-to-back strong seasons with Tennessee as a redshirt sophomore. After homering just twice in 29 games in 2023, Tears homered 20 times in 71 games in 2024 with a .324/.427/.643 slash line. He employs a high handset and level bat path from the left side of the box and generates huge top-end exit velocity numbers, though that hard contact comes with plenty of swing and miss. His career 25.6% strikeout rate and 68% overall contact rate point to a below-average hit tool, which means continuing to get to his impressive raw power in games with a wood bat will be key to his offensive profile. Tears showed a slightly improved approach in 2024 compared to 2023 and his walk rate climbed from 10.6% to 15.4% because of it, but the evaluations of his pure hitting ability continue to vary widely in the industry. Tears has the arm strength to play right field and should fit in either corner outfield position in pro ball. While he takes a few strides to get going, he’s a strong runner underway though not much of a base stealer at the moment.


One guy I really like as a senior sign is Lyle Miller-Green. FREAKISH size/power combo, very old for the draft but 2020 (COVID and a lost season at OSU cost him significant time)

Pick: OF Carson Benge
BA rank: 15

Instant Analysis: Getting Benge here is good value for the Mets. He’s an advanced pure hitter with a selective approach, a nice lefthanded swing and good bat control, resulting in a low swing-and-miss rate. It’s not the same level of bat speed and power that players like Braden Montgomery or Seaver King have who went ahead of them, but Benge has the edge on them in terms of pitch recognition and bat-to-ball skills.

BA 500 Scouting Report: Benge redshirted in 2022 during his first season with Oklahoma State as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He has both hit and pitched for the program in each of the last two seasons, though his focus and the bulk of his playing time has come as a hitter. A 6-foot-1, 184-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter, Benge has hit well over .300 in both of his seasons in the Big 12 Conference, with great plate discipline and solid power to go along with his contact skills. He has a noisy swing that features a wide and open setup, a sizable leg kick and some hand movement throughout his load, but he’s made it work in college with a solid 82% overall contact rate and more than enough bat speed to handle big league velocity. Benge might need to quiet his operation at the next level, but his combination of bat-to-ball skills and impact provides a solid foundation for a quality hit-and-power pair. Benge has mostly played right field and probably is best suited for that position given his plus arm and average speed, but scouts think he is a standout athlete who might be able to handle all three outfield spots. On the mound, Benge has a four-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball, upper-70s curve, mid-80s changeup and low-80s slider. He was most effective as a reliever with Oklahoma State, but his pro upside is greater as a hitter—the opposite of 2023 Mets third-rounder and former OSU two-way player Nolan McLean.

Depending on the price I think it could be worth the gamble

Seems like some nice picks yesterday! First time I missed the first day in a while.

Benge seems like he profiles similar to Conforto?

last 5 picks
Colin Houck
Jett Williams
Kevin Parada
Pete Crow Armstrong
Kumar Rocker

not a great haul there

In comment 16553664 Hilary said:

Quote:

last 5 picks Colin Houck Jett Williams Kevin Parada Pete Crow Armstrong Kumar Rocker not a great haul there

If you look across MLB you will find similar results. The success rate is awful. It also gets more complex as some teams will overdraft a player in Round 1 because he will sign for significantly below slot enabling you to have more money to go after better players on Day 2. If there is no player that stands out, why not save money to be able to get better talent later in the draft?

Josh Kuroda-Grauer.

take Nate Dohm, P - Miss. State.

In comment 16553664 Hilary said:

Quote:

last 5 picks Colin Houck Jett Williams Kevin Parada Pete Crow Armstrong Kumar Rocker not a great haul there

Rocker doesn't count as they didn't sign him, so they got an extra pick they used in the Parada/Jett draft. PCA was a top 10-15 prospect. Jett was a good pick as well. Houck too early to tell. Parada is the only one that looks like a disappointment, and he was the top college hitter coming out (or at least close to it)

In comment 16553667 Sammo85 said:

Quote:

Josh Kuroda-Grauer.

Yeah and they took Ryan Lasko last year who was also Rutgers best player.

Ht: 6'4" | Wt: 220 | B-T: R-R

Age: null

School: Mississippi State Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
BA Grade: 45/High
Tools: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 40. Control: 50.

Dohm is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound righthander who flashed impressive swing-and-miss stuff with Ball State in 2022 but also struggled to throw consistent strikes. He transferred to Mississippi State for the 2023 season where he cut his walk rate significantly, then was one of the most dominant starters in the country through his first four weeks in the 2024 season before an arm injury caused him to miss most of the rest of the season before making a few brief outings in May. He posted a 1.23 ERA over 29.1 innings and six starts with a 32.7% strikeout rate and 3.5% walk rate. Dohm pitches heavily off a 93-95 mph fastball that touches 96 and has impressive riding life that allows him to miss bats at the top of the zone. His best breaking ball is a short-breaking mid-80s slider, but he will also mix in a slower curveball around 80 mph that has a bit more depth, as well as an upper-80s changeup he throws to the arm side against lefties. If healthy all season, Dohm was pitching like a potential top-three round arm thanks to his pure stuff and command. His draft stock is more uncertain now, but he should still fit as a day two talent.

In comment 16553668 Sammo85 said:

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take Nate Dohm, P - Miss. State.

Pipeline had him ranked 165.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40

Dohm spent his first two college seasons in the bullpen, pitching at Ball State as a freshman before transferring to Mississippi State. He created some first-round buzz after transitioning to the rotation this spring and posting a 1.50 ERA with a 32/4 K/BB ratio over 24 innings in his first four starts. But he missed the next month with a forearm strain, made an aborted comeback in April and returned in short outings in the second half of May.

A healthy Dohm carves up hitters with a fastball that averages 94 mph and touches 97 with explosive carry up in the strike zone. He can miss bats with both of his breaking balls, getting a lot of empty swings with his mid-80s slider and a ton of chases with his deeper 79-82 mph curveball. He lacks feel for a too-firm changeup in the upper 80s, though it flashes some promising fade.

Dohm has a strong 6-foot-4 frame and a simple delivery that allows him to pound the zone with his fastball and slider. He looks like a mid-rotation starter but his durability is a huge question after he also had forearm issues as a sophomore. His stuff and strikes did come back in May, and he cruised through two scoreless innings against a formidable Texas A&M lineup at the Southeastern Conference tournament.

In comment 16553671 GF1080 said:

Quote:

In comment 16553667 Sammo85 said: Quote: Josh Kuroda-Grauer. Yeah and they took Ryan Lasko last year who was also Rutgers best player.

They’ve also taken a few kids recently from tri state areas the last few years, so the area scout clearly has some respect and pull over there in the FO.

Think they took a kid from Princeton recently too in past few years.

has feel of a possible play at coming in underslot a bit.

Spending 3rd Round picks on HS kids not in mlb.com's Top 250, not that that is the be all and end all.

In comment 16553663 GF1080 said:

Quote:

Seems like some nice picks yesterday! First time I missed the first day in a while. Benge seems like he profiles similar to Conforto?

that was what i thought as well. seems like a better athlete and maybe not as much power.