NY Mets fans will love this player comp for first-round draft pick Carson Wiggins

College statistics don’t tell you the full story of a player. Measuring a player’s fastball with a number doesn’t mean much to the average fan either. It’s all subjective. So, too, is comparing one player to another. But if you had to explain who a recent draft pick is, saying they’re the next so-and-so is a good way to do it. The New York Mets can only hope Carson Wiggins is anything close to the player comp from Bleacher Report.

Although noted that he’s the “lite” version, Wiggins’ comparative major leaguer is Mason Miller. The hard-throwing Arkansas pitcher capable of hitting 102 mph with a wipeout slider would like to start. However, if becoming the next version of Miller with fewer calories is what’s in store, the Mets might want to keep it simple.

With a comparison like this, the Mets should know what to do with Carson Wiggins

Miller, a third-round selection by the Athletics in 2021, fast-tracked his way to the majors. After just 6 innings in 2021 and another 9 in 2022, he was in Triple-A. Just 16 games and 39.1 innings of experience in the minors, he became a big league mainstay and one of the game’s best closers.

The Mets don’t need to hastily make any decision with Wiggins. Miller started off his professional career as a starter, but utilized more as an opener than what we’d expect from a starter to go 5+ innings. The debate as to whether or not the San Diego Padres should move Miller into a starter’s role was a discussion prior to the 2026 season. Primitive ways of thinking were to the opposite and make starters into relievers to get the best out of them. In recent years, the exact opposite is happening on a regular basis. The Mets know this well with Clay Holmes.

Already a Tommy John recipient, we should expect Wiggins to have at least a year, if not more, of limited action. Minimal appearances this year at most with a kind introduction in 2027 seems all too reasonable. Using him exactly as the A’s did with Miller makes sense. Get him used to starting games even if the innings total isn’t large. Figure it out from there.

Whether starting or pitching in relief, Wiggins has the risk of injury as anyone does but maybe more so because of his high velocity ways. Considering how well Miller has done in his closer role and the timing of when Devin Williams’ contract runs out (not that he’s fully secure as the closer), it would be advantageous to keep it simple with Wiggins for now and adjust later. Let the ball fly out of his hand one inning at a time.

Although it wasn't the only reason the Mets drafted Wiggins, it can't be ignored that Miller was a trade target this offseason. If other teams won't help you out, help out yourself.

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