New York Mets all-time best players homegrown from the farm

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Sep 26, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) celebrates with New York Mets third baseman David Wright (5) during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Who doesn’t love a homegrown talent? New York Mets fans love nothing more than having a player grow up inside the organization and become a local superstar. It fulfills the dream we all have somewhere inside of us as baseball fans.

A player’s rise through the ranks of an organization from draft pick to MLB star is a sight to behold, and the Mets have plenty of those talents in their history.

Compiling a nine-man lineup of the Mets’ greatest homegrown talent was no easy feat, but these nine players are some of the best to be with the organization from the draft to their time in the bigs.

Mets all-time homegrown pitcher: Jacob deGrom

Now, Hall of Famer Tom Seaver WOULD likely be in this spot, but his status as a homegrown player is a bit up in the air. The Atlanta Braves drafted him in 1966, but the pick was voided after the MLB ruled that Seaver was ineligible to draft since he was playing his junior season at USC when the terms of his contract were being finalized.

His contract was put up to a lottery between teams willing to match it and sign Seaver, and the Mets won that lottery. But since he was technically drafted by the Braves first, his status as a true homegrown talent is unclear.

With that being said, Jacob deGrom is still a perfect fit for the Mets all-time homegrown pitcher

What else is there to be said about deGrom that hasn’t already been said? The two-time NL Cy Young Award Winner (and leading candidate to win the award this season) is the best and most well-rounded pitcher of this generation.

His 100 MPH+ heater is just as accurate as it is fast, and his off-speed pitches work the perfect combination of dangerous break and convincing pitch tunneling, leaving batters guessing every time he’s on the mound.

With past success under his belt and future success all but certain (barring injury), deGrom is on his way to be one of the best homegrown Mets of all time.

Catcher: Todd Hundley

Drafted in the second round of the 1987 MLB Draft, Todd Hundley had a productive nine seasons with the franchise from 1990 to 1998.

His long run with the team was highlighted by back-to-back All-Star seasons in 1996 and 1997. Across those two years, Hundley hit 71 homers while batting a .265 AVG and .373 OBP.

Although not as memorable as non-homegrown catchers like Mike Piazza or Gary Carter, Hundley had an impressive and lengthy stay in Queens which deserves to be recognized.

Sep 29, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets third baseman David Wright (5) greets New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes (7) before a game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Mets all-time homegrown first baseman: Pete Alonso

Pete Alonso blasted his way into the majors with an MLB leading 53 home runs in his rookie season and hasn’t looked back since.

The power-hitting first baseman has quickly become one of the best hitters in the MLB, slugging .547 and hitting 173 RBI since his first MLB appearance in 2019.

With an All-Star appearance and Rookie of the Year Award under his belt already, Alonso is just getting started on his way to being one of the best homegrown Mets ever.

Second baseman: Edgardo Alfonso

The Mets’ all-time leader in WAR, home runs, and RBI amongst second basemen, Alfonso was the easy pick for this spot.

In eight seasons from 1995-2002, Alfonso hit 538 RBI on a .292 AVG, making the All-Star game in 2000. That same year the Mets took home the NL Pennant for the first time since 1986, in no small part due to Alfonso’s team-leading 6.4 WAR that season.

In 2020, Alfonso was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame.

Shortstop: Jose Reyes

Speedster Jose Reyes may be the best leadoff hitter in team history. Signing with the Mets in 1999, Reyes would work his way up through the minors, playing for the Mets from 2003-2011, and then rejoining the team from 2016-2018 after stints with the Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, and Colorado Rockies.

Reyes is possibly best known for his 2011 season, in which he hit .337 AVG and took home the NL batting title.

The star infielder is the franchise’s all-time leader in steals and triples, making four All-Star games in his time with the team.

Third baseman: David Wright

Any list of Mets homegrown talents would be incomplete without David Wright. Wright leads the Mets in all-time hits, runs, RBI, doubles, and is second in WAR and home runs.

Wright is the most quintessential Met of the 21st century. Despite the Mets struggles as a team during most of his tenure, Wright was part of the 2006 Mets team that made it to the NL pennant game, and the 2015 World Series team.

He spent his entire 13 season career in blue and orange and was named team captain in 2013.

The Captain did it on both sides of the ball, making seven All-Star games and winning two Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards.

UNDATED: Darryl Strawberry #18 of the New York Mets gets high-fives by his teammates in the dugout during a game circa 1983-1990. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images) /

Mets all-time homegrown left fielder: Cleon Jones

Cleon Jones signed with the Amazin’s as an amateur free agent in 1963, beginning his journey with the team that would last 1,201 games played (sixth-most in franchise history) across twelve seasons.

This selection is about way more than longevity though. His one All-Star season was outstanding, totaling a 7.0 WAR, tied for the seventh-highest in a single season by a Mets fielder all-time, according to Baseball Reference.

Most importantly though, that All-Star season of Jones’ came in 1969, helping the Mets to their first World Series win. Jones hit .340 and slugged .482 across the regular season that year and also caught the final out of game five of the World Series, securing the Mets’ win.

Center Fielder: Mookie Wilson

Drafted by New York in the 1977 MLB Draft, Mookie Wilson was one of the most iconic players from the 1983 World Series Champion team. Although he was never an All-Star or a major award winner, his presence in the team was irreplaceable.

In nine and a half seasons with the Mets, Wilson hit .281 and totaled 324 RBI and 274 stolen bases, the second-most bases stolen by any Met.

The speedy switch-hitting outfielder played a total of 1,036 games for New York.

Right Fielder: Darryl Strawberry

The franchise’s all-time leader in homers with 252 during his time in Queens, Darryl Strawberry is by far the best slugger to play for the Mets.

After missing out on the All-Star Game in his rookie year in 1983, Strawberry was an All-Star in each of his next seven seasons as a Met.

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Hitting a .263 AVG with an immense .875 OPS across his time in Queens, Strawberry is right fielder and best power hitter the Amazin’s have ever drafted.

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