We are just hours away from the 2024 MLB Amateur Draft, and mock draft season has hit its peak. The Mets select 19th in this year’s draft, after suffering a ten-slot violation related to their 2023 luxury tax threshold violation.
The Mets are said by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel to be considering “explosively athletic types” with their first selection, and there are several prospects in the 2024 class that fit that description. Let us take a look at recent notable mock drafts, and where they see the Mets going in president of baseball operations David Stearns and scouting director Kris Gross’ first year at the helm.
Note, our full draft preview article can be read here.
Carson Benge. Photo by The Oklahoman
The Pick: RHP/OF Carson Benge, Oklahoma State
ESPN Rank: 18
The Athletic Rank: 18
MLB Pipeline Rank: 18
Carson Benge, the seemingly consensus 18th-ranked prospect in this year’s draft, was mocked by Keith Law and The Athletic to the Mets at 19th overall. Benge was one of the nation’s most notable two-way player this year, and would be the second Oklahoma State Cowboy two-way player drafted by the Mets in as many years, joining 2023 third-round selection Nolan McLean.
Benge, 21, dominated from both sides of the plate this year for the Cowboys. In 61 games, he posted a .335/.444/.665 slash line with 18 homers and 24 doubles. One of Benge’s best tools is his lack of strikeouts, as he struck out just 51 times in 2024, compared to 49 walks. His strong eye and lack of strikeouts strike as skills that will immediately translate to the professional game. The right-handed hitter isn’t the most imposing figure, standing in at only six-foot-one, but still has room to grow into his frame, as he is listed at just 185 pounds.
On the mound, Benge mainly came out of the bullpen, posting a 3.16 ERA over 18 appearances, four of which were starts. Over 37 innings, he struck out 44, walked just 11, and allowed only four home runs. His fastball is lively, and can reach the upper-90 mph range. He has a solid duo of a slider and changeup to compliment the fastball, and he has solid command for his pitches.
Despite this, Benge is said to prefer hitting much more to pitching, and there is some questions as to whether or not he will want to continue pitching in the professionals. However, even just as a bat, Benge is an intriguing prospect and worthy of a first round selection. He fits the McDaniel assertion of an explosive athlete.
The Pick: OF Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina
ESPN Rank: 25
The Athletic Rank: 41
MLB Pipeline Rank: 22
Vance Honeycutt is one of the more polarizing figures in this year’s draft. The former Tar Heel posted an astounding 1.124 OPS for his junior year, a season in which he clubbed 28 homers, 43 total extra base hits, and stole 28 bases. Overall, he posted a slash line of .318/.410/.714 over 302 plate appearances across 62 games.
Honeycutt, as his rankings show, has the consensus all over the place. He brings great power, great speed, a great arm, a great glove, but there is tons of concern regarding his hit tool. There is concern that Honeycutt will not hit for much average at all given the major swing-and-miss issues. He possesses multiple 60-grade tools, but if his hit tool falls through, which some consider to be as low as 40, then Honeycutt might not reach his full potential.
If all breaks right for the 21-year old, he will end up a strong fielding center fielder, crush over 30 homers, and steal 30-plus bags a season. The best scenario for Honeycutt would make him one of the game’s best. However, if the hit tool can’t develop, he is a power threat outfielder with a strong arm that can steal bases. This could be a useful player, but might not be worth the 19th-overall selection.
Honeycutt’s biggest weakness will pose an interesting task for the Mets. The organization hasn’t developed as many hitting prospects with weak hit tools as other organizations, and considering that he is already 21, they won’t exactly have as much time as they would have had with a prep prospect. Vance Honeycutt would be a test of the Mets’ revamped player development team, but he could be worth the risk.
Kaelen Culpepper. (photo credits: K-State Athletics)
The Pick: SS Kaelen Culpepper, Kansas State
ESPN Rank: 28
The Athletic Rank: 30
MLB Pipeline Rank: 31
Kaelen Culpepper is one of the safer prospects in the draft, and would be a solid selection for the Mets. The former Wildcat posted a .993 OPS with 11 homers, 15 doubles, and six triples in his junior season. Culpepper was a three-year starter for the Wildcats in the Big 12, and was the biggest bright spot on one of the conference’s worst offenses. His strength came in his on base ability, posting a .402 career OBP over his collegiate years.
Culpepper isn’t a smaller shortstop, standing in at six-foot and 185 pounds, a solid frame for an infielder. Evaluators believe that Culpepper has a solid chance to stick at shortstop long-term, and could even become a glove-first player. However, if he were not to last as a shortstop, he would then likely become a strong second or third baseman. His arm is considered to be fairly strong, which could point to a future at third base if he doesn’t remain at short. Culpepper has already made the move, but in reverse. Initially a third baseman, he made the rare jump over to short, but found much success there on the Wildcat infield.
Culpepper, unlike the aforementioned Honeycutt, possesses a fairly safe hit tool, decent power, and a strong eye. In the 2024 NCAA College Baseball Playoff, Culpepper hit .474 for the Wildcats as they went on a strong playoff run. Culpepper’s playoff excellence was highlighted by a cycle against Louisiana Tech, the first of his collegiate career.
Kaelen Culpepper has the chance to become the first first-round pick in Kansas State baseball history, and very well could do so with some help from the New York Mets. He fits the athletic mold that the Mets are said to be looking for, but his lack of future power could severely limit his game, especially if he were to move to third base and need to produce more power. He is a safe pick and will be one of the Mets’ better prospects almost immediately, but his ceiling could be severely limited if he can’t grow into and develop more power as he goes through the system.
The Picks: OF Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina (Jim Callis), OF Slade Caldwell, Valley View HS, Jonesboro, Ark. (Jonathan Mayo)
ESPN Rank: 25/41
The Athletic Rank: 41/12
MLB Pipeline Rank: 22/27
As analyzed above, Vance Honeycutt was a dynamic player for North Carolina, however, certainly comes with his blemishes. He would provide huge upside but a considerable amount of risk as well.
As for the only High Schooler on this list, Slade Caldwell was named the top high school player in Arkansas as a junior in 2023. MLB Pipeline assigns him with slightly above average hit tool and strong fielding and running projections. He is a smaller player, listed at five-foot-nine and his style has directly garnered comparisons to current top Mets prospect Jett Williams.
As for his approach at the plate, Caldwell fits what is reportedly the type of player David Stearns and VP of Amateur Scouting Kris Gross like to target. He is a line-drive hitter that is reportedly already quite advanced for his age. He is not expected to hit for much power, as evident by a 45-power grade.
Caldwell is currently committed to play at Mississippi.
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