New York Mets 2022 MLB Draft Report Card

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Best Pure Hitter: The Mets grabbed a pair of the best hitters in the 2022 draft class in the first round with C Kevin Parada (1) and SS J.T. Williams (1), so either player would be a candidate for this category—though Parada had evaluators who believed he was the best pure hitter in the 2022 draft class as a whole.

Best Power Hitter: Parada (1) is a pure hitter first, but he saw a huge uptick in in-game power this spring with Georgia Tech, when he hit 26 home runs. In his brief pro debut this summer, Parada’s 90th percentile exit velocity (104) was near the top of the Mets draft class.

Fastest Runner: OF Nick Morabito (2s) is at least a plus runner who has earned some 70-grade run tool evaluations as well, and he should use that running ability to cover big swaths of ground in center field.

Best Defensive Player: The Mets are high on OF Rhylan Thomas’ (11) defensive ability in the outfield. He played center field for three seasons with Southern California, but in his pro debut this summer he’s already logged innings at all three defensive positions. Both Morabito (2s) and Williams (1) have a chance to be good defenders up the middle as well.

Best Fastball: RHP Blade Tidwell (2) was one of the harder-throwing players in the 2022 class and averages 95-96 mph on his fastball, getting the pitch up into the upper 90s at peak velocity. The pitch also has solid induced vertical break (around 18 inches), though his downhill plane and high release height might create less deception for the pitch. 

Best Secondary Pitch: Tidwell’s (2) go-to secondary offering has been a mid-80s slider with high spin rates in the 2,500-2,800 rpm range. With Tennessee during the spring Tidwell generated whiffs at a 40% rate and in a brief pro debut this summer the pitch graded out well analytically and generated whiffs at a 30% rate.

Best Pro Debut: Williams (1) played in just 10 games in the Florida Complex League but while there he showed solid plate discipline and slashed .250/.366/.438 with a 14.6% strikeout rate and a 9.8% walk rate. His offensive performance was good for a 120 wRC+ in the league. Parada (1) also performed well and slashed .275/.455/.425 between the FCL and the Florida State League, with a 23.6% strikeout rate, 21.8% walk rate and a 159 wRC+.

Best Athlete: Williams (1) is a plus runner and a powerfully built player with strength in his lower half and his forearms. He showed the defensive versatility to play shortstop and center field as an amateur and should be athletic enough to handle the most difficult positions on the defensive spectrum moving forward.

Most Intriguing Background: RHP Paul Gervase (12) began his career at Wake Tech (N.C.) JC before transferring to Louisiana State for the 2022 season, where he settled in as the Tigers’ closer. Gervase is one of the tallest pitchers in the class, standing 6-foot-10, and his low-90s fastball plays up because of that. It was effective enough to be a pitch he used nearly 90% of the time and opposing batters hit just .165/.267/.252 against it.

Closest To The Majors: Parada (1) has the sort of physicality, advanced hitting ability and power to make an impact quickly. His progress as a defender behind the plate could change his timeline depending on his development, but he also has the sort of bat that could be moved off the position and pushed on a faster track if that’s something the Mets felt the need to do. 

Best Late-Round Pick (Or NDFA): Gervase (12) has outlier traits on his fastball and with his stature in general, and he could provide a unique look out of a bullpen as long as he throws enough strikes.

The One Who Got Away: RHP Brandon Sproat (3) was one of just three players drafted among the top 10 rounds who didn’t sign. Sproat ranked as the No. 75 prospect on the BA 500 and was solidly a top-three round prospect with pure stuff and natural arm talent that could be argued as first round-caliber. Instead of starting his pro career, Sproat will return to Florida and look to continue establishing a solid track record as a pitcher in the SEC.