Mets Select Ascending Left-Handed Starter At No. 27 In Latest Mock Draft

The situation in Queens may not be quite as dire as it was at one point in the beginning of the year, but it’s still bad enough to allow little hope into the minds of New York Mets fans. Still sitting in last place in the National League East, their play in the summer months will be huge in determining which direction the President of Baseball Operations goes at the trade deadline.

Some may think the season is already too far gone as they sit 14.5 games out of first place in the division and six games out of the Wild Card, but it’s difficult to accept that fate, especially after the brutal ending to the 2025 season the Mets endured.

So, while New York is battling on the field every day in hopes of somehow getting back in the mix so they can be buyers at the deadline, the front office will also be tasked with making a key decision on who to take in the draft in mid July’s draft.

The Mets will have their first pick at No. 27 overall this year after it was pushed back 10 spots due to exceeding the luxury-tax threshold. Missing the postseason and only getting the 27th pick out of it isn’t ideal, but there will still be plenty of value for the Mets at that spot.

Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter created a full mock draft to pick No. 40 on Friday, and he has New York taking left-handed pitcher Mason Edwards.

Edwards is in his junior year at the University of Southern California, where he has made 16 starts after fully converting from the bullpen, where he was for the majority of his first two years. In his first season as a full-time starter, Edwards has recorded an 8-0 record with a 1.85 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.

The southpaw has shot up draft boards after his dominant junior season, where he increased his strikeouts per nine to 15.9 while his hits and home runs per nine saw drastic decreases. His ERA is the second-lowest in the country while he has struck out more batters, 164 in 92 ⅔ innings, than any other collegiate pitcher.

The Big Ten Pitcher of the Year winner does bring some concern with his 11.4 percent walk rate, but if he is still on the board for the Mets at the end of the first round, it should be an easy decision for the front office to make.

New York has developed some of baseball’s biggest pitching prospects in the past year, with Nolan McLean bursting onto the scene last season and Jonah Tong getting closer to becoming an MLB mainstay. It would be no surprise if the Mets go for another pitcher with their top pick in the draft and turn him into one of the best prospect talents in baseball.