Despite the game being rained out last night, #MetsTwitter did not skip a beat last night during the MLB Draft. With the 11th pick, the Mets wound up taking Serra High School first baseman Dominic Smith.
The reaction from from Twitter was mostly positive, with some negativity and stupidity scattered throughout. You can read through the entertaining reaction here.
Personally, I love this pick for the Mets. Is Dominic Smith going to be playing in Queens anytime soon? Probably not. But, the Mets picked the best prep bat in the draft. It is rare to find a player like Smith in the high school ranks.
The one other guy I wanted at #11 was Braden Shipley, but I by no means upset that the Mets passed him up to draft the highly touted Smith. This pick is all about ceiling.
Smith is a first baseman that played a bit of right field. Some people think that being a first baseman is a negative, but the fact is that Smith has gold glove potential at 1st. He has great range, and a spectacular arm. He throws 92 MPH from the mound, so it is safe to say he has a plus arm.
In terms of hitting, Smith has all you can ask from a player of his age. He has a smooth left handed swing, and he generates plenty of power. Many people compare his swing to Robinson Cano’s, and I agree with that comparison. Smith’s stride is a bit long, but that is something that can easily be corrected with professional coaching.
One of the things I like most about Smith is that he is just turning 18, so he is one of the younger prep players drafted. There is plenty of time for development here. MLB Network compared his offensive upside to Todd Helton, which is the same comparison I made in my draft preview.
Overall, Smith has the chance to be the total package. A middle of the order bat, and a stud in the field. He is going to take time to get there, but I think his bat is very special. Dominic Smith has the chance to hit .300 with 30HRs in the big leagues if everything pans out.
Smith will most likely sign early, and he will play for the GCL Mets of the Gulf Coast League. Based on his interviews he seems to have his head on straight, so that is a positive. Mets fans are going to have some patience here, but at the same time, fans should be ecstatic with this pick.
