Final MLB mock drafts have the NY Mets doing something they haven’t in a while

Over the last decade, the New York Mets have picked as high as sixth in the MLB Draft with their lowest first pick coming with the 38th selection last year. Jarred Kelenic in 2018 was the highest selection with Mitch Voit as the lowest first pick. In 2015, they didn’t even have a first-round pick. As MLB has evolved its rules, teams have been able to hold onto their first-round pick regardless of what they do in free agency.

For the Mets, who have consistently spent big, their punishment is dropping 10 slots from where they should’ve been. The Mets would have otherwise had the 17th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, but because of their excessive spending, they bounce down to 27th.

The 2026 MLB Draft begins on Saturday, July 11th. Final mock drafts are coming out and a common consensus in at least two of them have the Mets, for the first time in a while, taking a pitcher with their pick.

Will the Mets draft a pitcher in the first round of the MLB Draft for the first time since 2021?

The last time the Mets drafted a pitcher in the first round gets an asterisk because Kumar Rocker, the 10th overall pick, didn’t sign with the team. A situation where Rocker dropped in the draft to the Mets only for them to be turned off enough by his medicals had the two sides disagreeing on the signing bonus amount. Awarded a pick the following year at 11th where they took Kevin Parada, they didn’t exactly achieve much by getting scared off of Rocker.

Whether you want to count it or not, this is the last time the Mets took a pitcher over a position player in the first round. Prior to Rocker, we have to go back to 2017 when David Peterson was their pick.

More than any other sport, the MLB Draft is about the best possible player while ignoring position. With this in mind, it’s a bit random but also noticeable.

FanSided’s mock draft has left-handed pitcher Cole Carlon from Arizona State coming to the Mets. His 14.3 K/9 rate in college this past year highlights the achievements. Cody Williams suggests he can “almost” step into a big league bullpen. A quick acceleration to the majors within a year or two as a starter or reliever would be incredibly helpful considering how many other pitching prodigies have flamed out in the minors for the Mets.

Over at ESPN, Cade Townsend is the mock pick for the Mets. He’s a righty from the University of Mississippi. A 12.4 K/9 rate challenges Carlon’s college numbers. Of course, at the amateur level, it’s not apples to apples. Carlon plays in the B12 while Townsend’s college experience came in the SEC.

Picking either pitcher would be a change of pace for the Mets who’ve continuously drafted outfielders. They certainly still could as mock drafts tend to miss more than they hit in the latter part of the first-round.

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