Early grades for the last 5 Mets first-round draft picks

2022 – Kevin Parada, D+

The selection itself wasn’t bad. Other than knowing they already had Francisco Alvarez in the system, the Mets weren’t wrong to take Kevin Parada with the 11th overall pick in 2022. This was a pick they got for their failure to sign Kumar Rocker the year prior. More on him in a little bit.

Parada received a franchise-record $5,019,735 signing bonus. Of course, with inflation and being selected so high in the draft, it was only natural for a new record to get set here.

Parada has only recently begun to hit well and show some power. Still behind the .248/.324/.428 from last season by around 20 points in each category, the way to save this first-round draft selection will be for his sudden offensive surge to be some sort of jumping off point. Through his first 42 plate appearances in June, Parada has hit .316/.381/.579 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI.

The fact that Parada isn’t considered a top 100 prospect in baseball is a big bummer. It shouldn’t fall exclusively on the Mets. The player needs to perform.

It’s looking more and more like Parada’s ceiling will have him as a backup in the major leagues—if he gets there at all. The Mets don’t have much of a need for him. A trade could always happen, but at this point, what would they be able to get in return?