Now that I have been approved by John, I will post my first MOD thread. It is great to be back representing the New York Mets in the 2018 Community Mock Draft! As in past seasons, I will try to keep pretty frequent MOD threads, including a War Room on Draft Day (June 2). Especially the later we get in the Mock Draft, it is impossible to know who will be available so I cannot guarantee that if you suggest specific names that those will be our picks. For those who have been in the War Room with me before know that I do tend to go with the consensus of those who are in the thread with me.

I do try to be realistic with what the Mets will do in terms of players they are likely to target and staying within the budget. The Mets have 4 picks this year, starting with 6th overall. That leaves us with a nice budget, but the Mets have not shown a willingness to use their assigned budget. The closest scenario to this year was in the Michael Conforto draft where we picked 10th overall, but didn't have a 2nd Round selection. Conforto signed for right around slot at #10, we went over slot to sign Milton Ramos, a HS SS, in Round 3, and then we went totally off the board in Round 4 with JuCo 3B Eudor Garcia. Since then the Mets have a tendency to use either a 1st or 2nd Rounder on a potential overslot pick, but not both, and they have generally gone with Juniors who will sign below slot in Rounds 3 and 4. Having #6 might provide a little extra flexibility, but not sure it as much as we would wish it to be. A HS player in Round 1 likely takes HS, Draft Eligible Sophomores, and Juniors from schools like Vandy and Stanford, out of consideration for future picks unless we go "off the board" for a HS player who may be ranked lower and may accept 9th or 10th overall money for the prestige of going at #6, especially if 9 or 10 was probably the high place of where the prospect expected to go. It may not seem that far fetched because this draft isn't strong in terms of players you can say would be consensus Top 3-5 picks most years, but the tier of players who could conceivably go 6-10 in most years is actaully deeper than usual this year. Finally, the Mets value Cape Cod League performance, even if not replicated as a College Junior.

Without further ado, here are some names to get us started in Round 1 discussion:

Casey Mize/RHP/Auburn
+The consensus top player in this draft in a year that there isn't much consensus
- Will go 1.1

Carter Stewart/RHP/Eau Gallie (FL) HS
+Fastball up to 98, great build, not just a thrower
-Velocity seems to be down in recent starts, $$$ at 6

Nick Madrigal/IF/Oregon State
+By far the best pure bat in this year's draft, GG potential at 2B
-Will he hit for enough power?

Matthew Liberatore/LHP/Mountain Ridge (AZ) HS
+Not eye popping velocity, but he has more than enough, tremendous control for a HS arm
-May cost too much, some question about upside

Jarred Kelenic/OF/Waukesha West (WI) HS
+Best pure bat among HS class, offers speed and nice arm
-If he can't stick in CF may not have the power you want from a corner OF (see Brandon Nimmo)

Joey Bart/C/Georgia Tech
+Not often you see a C with this combo of hit tool, power, and defensive potential
-Is he closer to Buster Posey than Tony Sanchez?

Jonathan India/IF/Florida
+Performance finally meets tools, probably the cheapest sign of those listed, decent performance in Cape
-Only one year of production in college - was it a fluke?

Alec Bohm/IF/Wichita State
+Tremendous power and hit on Cape, but still has strong hit tool (isn't all or nothing)
-Defensively where does he fit?