Could Gavin Cecchini factory into a Mets future infield?
Later this evening, the New York Mets will be making selection number 12 in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. So it is about that time where speculation of the pick is due to circulate. In a pretty comfy position heading into the event, the Mets have had a handful of names in mind. There are the couple of pipedream players, the viable and realistic options, and the consolation players.
With the cream of the pitching crop expected to fly into the hands of baseball’s uber weaklings, the Mets will almost certainly be addressing positional needs. They had a fine couple of years drafting pitchers, and we’ll see those guys crack the big league roster within the next few years. After selecting the young, athletic outfielder Brandon Nimmo in 2011, expect the Mets to go along those lines again this year.
If the Mets luck out, they’ll continue to bulk up that minor league outfield with a selection of Courtney Hawkins, a big power hitting high schooler. If the Mets have a shot at him, its a must-take to pair him up with Nimmo. There’s your Mets outfield of the future. However, Hawkins is a long shot to last much past the top 10 spots.
A more realistic option, my hope for this pick, is shortstop Gavin Cecchini. His brother Garin, is in the process of blossoming in the Red Sox system. First of all, the Mets don’t have too much in terms of teenage potential in the middle infield outside of Wilmer Flores, who is working his way up the ranks quickly. And with the injury proneness at the shortstop position, it wouldn’t hurt to have a young guy groomed into the role. Ruben Tejada may only develop so far into the future.
Athletically, Cecchini could be the whole package. He’s no Jose Reyes by any means, but he’ll bring speed and the raw ability to hit to the table. He is also considered to be fundamentally one of the best available hitters in the draft.
Arizona State product Deven Marrero will also likely be around if the Mets will look into a shortstop, and if maturation will come into play when the team makes its selection.
Right-handed Floridian high school pitchers Lance McCullers and Zach Eflin will most likely be around as fallbacks if these options run dry.
But it seems like this is another year to load the farm with hitting, and between Cecchini, Hawkins and Marrero, there will be a few names at their disposal. The 2012 First-Year Player Draft kicks off at 7:00 ET tonight, so we’ll see how the Mets address things later this evening.
