Every team in Major League Baseball has been shaped by their past MLB Drafts. The Mets are no exception, as several of their picks have gone on to become All-Stars. Others, on the other hand, were used to pick up pieces that are now part of their core. But, which players taken by the Mets over the last decade have had the biggest impact? Here’s a look at the best Mets draft picks over the last 10 seasons.
Best Mets Draft Picks Over Last 10 Seasons
| Name | Position | Year Drafted | Round | Career bWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Conforto | OF | 2014 | 1 | 16.9 |
| Pete Alonso | 1B | 2016 | 2 | 18.2 |
| Justin Dunn | P | 2016 | 1 | 1.5 |
| Colin Holderman | P | 2016 | 9 | 2.0 |
| David Peterson | P | 2017 | 1 | 3.2 |
| Jarred Kelenic | OF | 2018 | 1 | 1.5 |
| Simeon Woods Richardson | P | 2018 | 2 | 1.4 |
| Tylor Megill | P | 2018 | 8 | 1.4 |
Just eight players selected in the MLB Draft by the Mets over the last decade recorded a career bWAR of 1.0 or greater. However, Mark Vientos (2nd, 2017) and Christian Scott (5th, 2021) could join that group soon.
The decade started well for the Mets, as New York selected Oregon State standout Michael Conforto in the first round in 2024. That year wasn’t a strong draft in hindsight for the Mets, as just two signed Mets — the other being former Cub Brad Wieck — wound up making the Majors. Conforto became an NL All-Star with the Mets, hit 132 home runs with the team from Queens, and helped New York make the World Series in 2015.
Two years later, the Mets struck gold with Pete Alonso. Alonso was a slugger from the University of Florida with a big bat but also questions. The Mets first baseman was a right-handed hitting first baseman, lacked defensive versatility, and broke a bone in his left hand during his draft year. But, he could hit.
No player from the 2016 Draft has more home runs than Alonso (210), who turned into a three-time All-Star and 2019 NL Rookie of the Year. And, no Met drafted by the team over the last decade has a better bWAR (18.2).
Aside from those two picks, the Mets did take several pitchers who’ve logged innings in the New York rotation over the years. David Peterson and Tylor Megill have both shown value, while Simeon Woods Richardson is currently in the Twins rotation.
The Mets picked current Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic in the first round in 2018. Kelenic was traded to Seattle just months later for Edwin Diaz.
Unfortunately for the Mets, two high schoolers selected but not signed wound up becoming very good Major Leaguers. Shane McClanahan was a 26th-round pick in 2015 but opted not to sign. A year later, the Mets drafted upstate New Yorker George Kirby in the 32nd round. He didn’t sign and went to Elon University, becoming a first-round pick in 2019.
Now, we go from the best Mets draft picks over the last decade to notable ones that didn’t work out.
Worst Mets Draft Picks Over Last 10 Seasons
| Name | Position | Year Drafted | Round | Career bWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desmond Lindsay | OF | 2015 | 2 | Never played in MLB |
| Anthony Kay | P | 2016 | 1 | -0.1 |
| Josh Wolf | P | 2019 | 2 | Never played in MLB |
| Matt Allan | P | 2019 | 3 | Never played in MLB |
| J.T. Ginn | P | 2020 | 2 | Never played in MLB |
| Isaiah Greene | OF | 2020 | 3 | Never played in MLB |
Thanks to the signing of Michael Cuddyer, the Mets were short a first-round pick in 2015. Their second-round pick was Desmond Lindsay, a five-tool high school outfielder with supreme talent. Unfortunately for Lindsay, nagging injuries, including hamstring trouble and nerve problems in his elbow, limited Lindsay on the field. He last played in the Mets system in 2021.
Anthony Kay, drafted in the first round a year later, did make it to the Majors but never clicked after a strong college career in Japan. Kay owned a 1.61 WHIP over 85.1 MLB innings and currently pitches in Japan.
The most notable hits, though, came in 2019 during what was an uber-aggressive draft for the Mets. New York selected Brett Baty, an overage Texas high school product in the first round. Baty’s shown flashes at times but hasn’t had sustained success at the MLB level.
New York took Josh Wolf, a Texas high school pitcher, in the second round. Wolf was dealt over a year later for Francisco Lindor along with Isaiah Greene. Greene’s hit .226/.370/.332 over his MiLB career, while Wolf is in the Giants organization now and never pitched above High-A.
The Mets’ third-round pick in 2019 was Matt Allan. Allan was a consensus first-round prospect but dropped due to signability concerns. New York opted to take him anyway, hoping their gamble would net them a future ace. Unfortunately, injuries out of his control have kept him off the field.
Allan underwent Tommy John in 2021, surgery to transpose a nerve in 2022, and a UCL revision in 2023. He hasn’t thrown a pitch in a pro game since 2019.
bWAR figures as of July 2024.