New York Mets best first-round draft pick at every position

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1992: Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets winds back to pitch during a1992 season game. Dwight Gooden played for the New York Mets from 1984-1997. (Photo by: Bernstein Associates/Getty Images) /

At each position, these are the best New York Mets selected in the first round of the MLB Draft.

The MLB Draft is a team’s chance to add young talent to the roster and grow them in the farm system. The New York Mets have made some notably great picks in the first round, adding some of the franchise’s top players along the way.

For the roster I’m going to discuss here, that’s exactly the crop of players we’re dealing with—first-round selections. Anyone taken in the first-round, including the supplemental picks, is available for what we could call “the all-time first-round draft pick lineup.” Only players drafted by the Mets will actually be considered.

You won’t find guys like Steve Chilcott on this list. However, as you’ll quickly notice, some positions aren’t as strong as others.

Pitcher – Dwight Gooden

Dwight Gooden is one of the best pitchers in Mets history and an easy choice to represent first-round picks in this lineup. The fifth overall pick in the 1982 draft dazzled everyone early on in his Mets career with a Rookie of the Year in 1984 and Cy Young in 1985.

Gooden’s overall Mets totals include 157 wins and a 3.10 ERA. These hardly do him justice for what he accomplished in the earliest years of his career. His 1985 campaign, for instance, remains one of the best by a pitcher of any era.

Catcher – Kevin Plawecki

The Mets take a dip behind the plate from the star power on the mound. Not many of their first-round drafted catchers did much with the team in the major leagues. Kevin Plawecki hardly scratches the surface of what some of the other names on this list achieved.

Plawecki’s four seasons with the Mets included only a part-time job and resulted in a .218 batting average across 804 plate appearances. As the 35th overall pick in the 2012 draft, he’s one of those players who never reached his potential in New York. Amazingly, he’s still the best catcher the Mets ever took in round one.

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 06: Ike Davis #29 of the New York Mets in action against the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field on April 6, 2014 in New York City. Reds defeated the Mets 2-1. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

First Baseman – Ike Davis

Ike Davis may be the closest player you find on this list to being usurped. Dominic Smith’s career with the Mets isn’t over yet as of 2020. For now, it’s Davis and his .241 batting average and 68 home runs that earns the nod.

Davis wasn’t a superb player for the Mets, but he did give them some memorable years including his 32 home run campaign in 2012. His career with the organization all began in 2008 when he was selected 18th overall.

Second Baseman– Wally Backman

Originally drafted as a shortstop like many second basemen are, Wally Backman went on to have a solid career with the Mets. To this day, people still want him to become the manager. That’s more of a discredit to their thinking than it is to his leadership abilities.

The 16th overall pick in the 1977 draft played for the Mets for nine seasons and was part of their amazing run in the 1986 World Series. He hit .283 for the club in his time here, setting a career-high in 1986 with a .320 average in the regular season. Although light-hitting, he was a valuable piece to the championship puzzle.

Third Baseman – David Wright

Shut it down. Shut it all down. The greatest first-round pick in Mets history is this guy, Mr. David Wright. The former Captain of the Metropolitans was a supplemental first-round pick in 2001, landing with New York as the 38th overall selection.

Wright’s triumphs with the Mets include multiple franchise records. He never wore another big league uniform and could easily be the face of the franchise for the next few decades. The seven-time All-Star is the unquestioned best third basemen in team history and an easy selection to carve into the Mets Mount Rushmore.

Shortstop – Tim Foli

The Mets have drafted a couple of shortstops. Many changed positions as Backman did. I wanted to include Gregg Jefferies here, but he never actually played his old amateur position. To keep some level of control to this roster, we’re going to have to select Tim Foli.

Foli had an interesting Mets career after getting drafted first overall in 1968. He was involved in the Rusty Staub trade but returned for the 1978 season. He never did live up to his lofty expectations. During his time in Flushing, he hit just .243 in 773 trips to the plate.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – October 1: Michael Conforto #30 of the New York Mets during an MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on October 1, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Mets 3-0. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Left Fielder – Michael Conforto

Michael Conforto has bounced around plenty on defense since coming up to the Mets in 2015. The 10th overall selection from the 2014 draft is our left fielder for this list because, well, he can play any of the three positions and he deserves a spot.

Conforto’s young career with the Mets includes a trip to the All-Star Game, a .253 batting average, and 109 home runs through the first five seasons. He’s one of the current players fans love to debate most. Whatever you think of him, he is one of the best first-round picks in franchise history.

Center Fielder – Lee Mazzilli

I feel Lee Mazzilli is one of the most underappreciated players to suit up for the orange and blue. He made his MLB debut in 1976 and stayed with the club through 1981. This was a dark period for the organization yet Mazzilli managed to bring a little sunshine to the field with his play.

Selected 14th overall in 1973, Mazzilli did return to the Mets for a few years later in his career. His 152 stolen bases help highlight the speed he gave them on offense in the early part of his time with New York.

Right Fielder – Darryl Strawberry

We’ve been all around the diamond and we wrap up with another Mets great, Darryl Strawberry. Taken first overall in 1980, Strawberry was a star throughout the decade. He snagged eight All-Star appearances and managed to set the franchise record in home runs.

Strawberry’s place in MLB history may not look nearly as sweet as what he accomplished with the Mets. Off-field issues ultimately took his career in the wrong direction. Still, as a member of the Amazins, he was phenomenal.

Next. Greatest closers in Mets history

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Which other first-round picks do you think belong on this list? Is there anyone in the farm system you think has a chance to crack it?

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