Today is the amateur draft, an event that is largely forgotten until it occurs and ignored once it’s over. It’s not a marquee event, like the NBA or NFL drafts mostly because it will be years before some of the best talent is ready to play in the major leagues. Yet, it’s a crucial part of developing an organization: whether you plan on developing from the inside or by acquiring outside talent, the draft provides the means.

In this year’s draft, the Mets do not have an actual first round draft pick, as that was delivered to the San Francisco Giants as compensation for Moises Alou. However, the Mets do have two picks in the supplemental round following (the 42nd and 47th picks overall), plus two second rounders (picks number 77 and 93), and two thirds (99 and 123), due to the loss of a pair of middle relievers (Chad Bradford and Roberto Hernandez).

In honor of this special day, I thought it would be informative to look at the Mets recent draft history, beginning in 2003:

2003

General Manager: Steve Phillips
Scouting Director: Jack Bowen
Number of players to reach majors so far: 2
First-round pick(s): Lastings Milledge (#12)

Like in 2002, the Mets lost their second- and third-round selections. Milledge was considered one of the best high school hitters in the country, but personality issues dropped him to the Mets at number twelve. Scouts loved his speed, arm, and batspeed, and they thought some power would eventually come. Milledge showed great contact ability everywhere he went, rarely striking out. He also improved his patience as he went along, though the power hasn’t shown up yet. Attitude problems have cost him at times.

Other highlights: Fourth-rounder Shane Hawk was a reliever out of Oklahoma State with a low-90’s fastball and a great slider. Shoulder injuries have derailed him, and he hasn’t pitched since 2004…Louisiana-Lafayette outfielder Corey Coles was taken in the fifth round. He has pretty good speed, is a fair defender, and has great contact ability. He’s a little old, but he’s coming along…The Mets took Brian Bannister (USC) in the seventh round. He displayed great control and a solid slider, advancing very quickly. He made the rotation last year and was traded during the offseason…The Mets took finesse lefty Evan MacLane (Feather River CC) in the 25th round. His control is good enough that he could make it as a marginal starter on some teams. The Mets sent him to Arizona in a trade.

Final thoughts: A pretty decent draft, especially if Milledge becomes a major league regular. Bannister has become a solid back-of-the-rotation starter, and there’s still time for guys like Hawk, Coles, Carlos Muniz, Dante Brinkley, and MacLane to become role players. The Mets went extremely hard after college players (ten of their first twelve picks came from universities), saving most of their high school selections for the later rounds. Phillips’s last draft actually went pretty well.

2004

General Manager: Jim Duquette
Scouting Director: Jack Bowen
Number of players to reach majors so far: 1
First-round pick(s): Philip Humber (#3)

Of the three great Rice pitchers to enter the 2004 draft, Humber was considered the safest pick. The Mets wanted a safe pick and grabbed him with the number three pick in the draft. Humber has a low-90’s fastball and a great curve, and when he’s pitched he’s pitched well, with good peripherals across the board. Of course, he wound up getting Tommy John surgery in 2005.

Other highlights: Second-rounder Matt Durkin is a tall righty out of San Jose State. Scouts liked his arm and build, but he had poor control. Elbow injuries washed away his 2006 season…Third-rounder Gaby Hernandez was drafted out of a Miami high school, bringing with him a low-90’s sinking fastball and great control. He immediately climbed up the Mets’ prospect lists and was traded for Paul Lo Duca before last season…Nick Evans, drafted in the sixth-round out of a Phoenix high school, was a third baseman with some pop. He’s been moved to first, but is off to a great start this year…Mike Carp was a high school third baseman drafted in the ninth round from California. Moved to first base, he’s made major progress over the past couple years and has good patience and pop…15th round shortstop Grant Psomas was drafted from West Virginia University and has shown some offensive ability. He was sent to the Marlins in the Carlos Delgado trade…Sean Henry (20th round) was a toolsy high school shortstop who’s made some refinements as he’s converted to the outfield. He’s interesting…Michael Devaney (23rd round) is a college righty with a good curve, who may become a useful pitcher if he can keep his walks down.

Final thoughts: So far, I think it’s looking like a pretty good draft. Humber hasn’t been as good as expected, and you may want to get more out of the #3 pick, but none of the pitchers drafted immediately after him have looked much better. Otherwise, Hernandez is a very good-looking prospect, and Carp’s coming along nicely. Guys like Evans, Psomas, Henry, and Devaney have a decent chance at becoming role players. The Mets drafted a nice mix of college and high school players, and the younger guys have worked out better, making refinements where they’ve been needed. There’s still a lot of time left on this one, though.

2005

General Manager: Omar Minaya
Scouting Director: Russ Bove
Number of players to reach majors so far: 1
First-round pick(s): Mike Pelfrey (#9)

Pelfrey was a no-brainer choice at number nine. Considered the top pitching talent in the draft, he dropped to the Mets due to signability issues. Scouts liked his poise, his mid-90’s sinking fastball, and his curve, expecting him to move quickly. The Mets were aggressive with him, and he was brought up to the bigs late last year. His curve wasn’t as good as advertised, and he’ll need to find a secondary offering and better control.

Other highlights: Yet again, the Mets didn’t have a second- or third-round pick, so they got stuck with Hector Pellot, a middle infielder out of Puerto Rico. The pick caused a lot of head-scratching. A good defender, he’s also showing some speed at Savannah…Catcher Drew Butera was picked out of the University of Central Florida in the fifth. He was considered a good defender who probably won’t hit much; he’s projected as a backup…Jon Niese, a seventh round pick from an Ohio high school was a projectable lefty who was expected to add velocity as he aged. He’s developed nicely, becoming one of the Mets’ better prospects…Ninth-round selection Bobby Parnell, from South Charleston, has a good fastball and has been very impressive at St. Lucie this year. His stock is rising.

Final thoughts: Pelfrey makes the draft a good one, and if Niese and Parnell continue to impress this draft looks very good. And there’s still plenty of time for others to separate themselves from the pack. Originally, I thought this draft would only yield Pelfrey and a backup catcher (Butera), but it should do a little more. Bove, in his only draft before being replaced, went a little younger than 2004’s draft, which may work out with Pellot and Niese, even if it hasn’t with some others (Greg Cain, for example).

2006

General Manager: Omar Minaya
Scouting Director: Rudy Terrassas
Number of players to reach majors so far: 1
First-round pick(s): None, but Kevin Mulvey (#62) was the team’s first pick.

The 2006 draft was loaded with polished, college pitchers with less upside, and that’s exactly what the Mets picked. Mulvey had been expected to go higher but fell to the Mets with the 62nd pick. As a senior at Villanova, Mulvey displayed good command, a low-90’s fastball, and a couple of good breaking pitches. Some scouts questioned his pedestrian numbers against lesser competition. He was expected to move quickly, and the Mets have been aggressive with him.

Other highlights: Third-round choice Joseph Smith, drafted from Wright State, is already pitching out of the Mets bullpen. He’s a sidearming righty with a good arm and a great slider. A very savvy selection…Fourth-rounder John Holdzkom was drafted out of Salt Lake CC. He’s tall and possesses a great arm, but he’s very raw and has had a terrible time with his control so far…Fifth-round pick Rhode Island righty Stephen Holmes did not sign…Seventh-round pick, Daniel Stegall, a high school outfielder from Arkansas, is a talented athlete, but will need time to work on his baseball skills…16th round pick Tobi Stoner is a control artist out of Davis and Elkins College, who dominated at Brooklyn. His strikeout rate needs work, but he’s promising.

Final thoughts: It’s way too early to tell on this one, but Mulvey looks good so far, and Smith was one of the smartest choices in a weak draft. When the draft is weak, it makes perfect sense to use a high draft pick on a polished pitcher with less upside. The Mets went heavier on college pitchers last year, which makes sense, given that was the supposed strength of the draft class.

References

The Baseball Cube is an invaluable resource for anything concerning the minor leagues.

NYfuturestars.com did a wonderful job reminding me of the strengths of many players I had forgotten.