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Carson Wiggins. Aiden Robbins. Shane Sdao. You might not remember any of their names in five years, but there’s always a chance one of these newly-drafted Mets could be the next David Wright, or Jacob deGrom, or Pete Alonso, or Pete Crow-Armstrong—well, hopefully not that last one, for the sake of fans’ collective sanity.
It can feel impossible to parse through the projections of power and stuff, the anecdotes about players’ mature mindsets, the nuance of whether the difference between a 60-grade tool or a 65-grade tool actually matters when measured on an already-confusing 20-80 scale for evaluating draftees. It can feel pointless and romantic, especially when players are likely years away from having an impact at the major league level. But if this season has shown any bright spot, it’s that homegrown talent can still be a spark in dark times. Perhaps one of these newest Mets prospects may at least prove to be the next burst of youth on the horizon, if not the next franchise legend.
It’s in the spirit of romantic optimism that we take a journey through memory lane to visit the top 10 players drafted and signed by the Mets, according to bWAR. Note that this criteria includes total career bWAR, not just bWAR as a member of the Mets, and that it excludes players who may have been selected by the Mets but didn’t sign with them. Without further ado, here is the list…
10. PETE ALONSO (25.2 bWAR) – 2016, 2nd round, 64th overall
The Gator was the Mets’ third selection in the 2016 draft, after first-round pitchers Justin Dunn and Anthony Kay. Dunn was traded to the Mariners in the Edwin Díaz deal, while Kay was dealt to the Blue Jays the following summer in a Deadline deal for Marcus Stroman. But Alonso stayed — at least through 2025 — and became a five-time All-Star, two-time Home Run Derby champ, Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger, and the franchise’s all-time home run leader with a total of 264.
9. BRANDON NIMMO (27.7 bWAR) – 2011, 1st round, 13th overall
Sandy Alderson kicked off his tenure as the Mets’ general manager with a big swing, selecting an 18-year-old from Wyoming with his first draft pick. Five years later, Nimmo made his big-league debut, and ten years after that he remains a valuable player as a veteran with the Rangers. Nimmo is one of just three players since 2000 to play a decade in orange and blue, along with fellow homegrown Mets David Wright and José Reyes. Nimmo is also the all-time leader in games played, home runs, runs, RBI, and walks among players born in Wyoming.
8. A.J. BURNETT (28.8 bWAR) – 1995, 8th round, 217th overall
Burnett never actually played for the Mets, as he was traded to the Marlins in the Al Leiter deal as a minor leaguer in 1998. Burnett went on to have a 17-year career, earning just one All-Star selection which came during his 17th season in 2015. His 164 career wins rank fourth among eighth-rounders, behind Charlie Hough (216), Tim Wakefield (200), and Derek Lowe (176). But Burnett is certainly not the most infamous Mets draft pick to have been traded early in a decorated career (more on that later in the list). The only other pitchers the Mets have selected in the eighth round who made it to the big leagues are Tylor Megill, who was taken in the 2018 draft, and Mike Vasil — the White Sox’ magic man who was originally selected by the Mets in 2021.
7. JON MATLACK (39.4 bWAR) – 1967, 1st round, 4th overall
The most productive left-handed-pitcher drafted and signed by the Mets according to bWAR, Matlack earned three All-Star selections and a Rookie of the Year Award during his seven seasons in New York. In the 1973 postseason, he tossed 25 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run (Weaver-esque) while allowing just eight hits before eventually taking the loss in Game 7 of the World Series. The following season, Matlack put up a 2.41 ERA in 265.1 innings of work, good for a 9.1 bWAR — fifth-most in a season by any Mets pitcher.
6. DARRYL STRAWBERRY (42.2 bWAR) – 1980, 1st round, 1st overall
The Mets have made five No. 1 overall picks in the draft: Steven Chilcott (1966), Tim Foli (1968), Strawberry, Shawn Abner (1984), and Paul Wilson (1994). Chilcott didn’t make the majors. Abner was traded after ’86 in the Kevin McReynolds deal, and ended his career with a negative bWAR. Wilson played one season with the Mets and Foli enjoyed a 16-year big league career, but only Strawberry became a legitimate star. His numbers rank among the best for first-overall picks, with 335 homers (seventh), 221 steals (third), and 1,000 RBI (11th).
5. LENNY DYKSTRA (42.4 bWAR) – 1981, 13th round, 315th overall
Only four 13th-round picks in the history of the draft have more bWAR than Dykstra: Albert Pujols, Jim Thome, Jack Clark, and Steve Finley. He is also one of only three Mets draftees in the 13th-round to record 20+ bWAR, all of whom were left-handed hitters: Dykstra, Darin Erstad (not signed), and Daniel Murphy. It’s possible Alonso or Nimmo surpass Dykstra’s career bWAR total, but as of now, Nails is the second-most valuable position player drafted and signed by the Mets behind…
4. DAVID WRIGHT (49.1 bWAR) – 2001, 1st round, 38th overall
The Mets received a compensatory pick when Mike Hampton departed in free agency following the 2000 season. They made the most of it. Wright is the franchise leader in hits (1,777), runs (949), and RBI (970), and likely the team’s last captain for quite some time. But Wright was actually the Mets’ second pick of the 2001 draft, as right-handed reliever Aaron Heilman was taken 18th overall. It’s safe to say the Mets buried the lede on that one.
3. JACOB DEGROM (49.9 bWAR) – 2010, 9th round, 272nd overall
Originally a shortstop in college, deGrom was never a big-name pitching prospect. He was taken in the ninth round, he underwent Tommy John surgery in the minors, and when he arrived in the majors as a 25-year-old he wasn’t even the most anticipated Mets pitcher to debut that series (recall Rafael Montero). But deGrom made the most of that ninth-round selection, as his 49.9 career bWAR trails only Hall of Famer Fred McGriff among ninth-rounders. Oddly enough, the only other pitcher since 2018 with back-to-back Cy Young Awards was a fellow ninth-round pick: the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal.
2. DWIGHT GOODEN (53.0 bWAR) – 1982, 1st round, 5th overall
It’s hard to hit as resounding a ‘home run’ with two first-round draft picks as the Mets did in the early ’80s with Doc and Darryl. Gooden has the fourth-most pitching bWAR of any pitcher taken within the first five overall picks, behind Justin Verlander (82.3), Kevin Brown (68.2), and Chuck Finley (58.3). He also has the most bWAR of any Mets first-rounder, and the most bWAR as a Metof any pitcher the franchise has drafted. I specify “as a Met”because, well…
1. NOLAN RYAN (81.3 bWAR) – 1965, 12th round, 295th overall
Taken two rounds after the Dodgers selected Tom Seaver in the 1965 draft, 18-year-old Nolan Ryan would become by far the most productive 12th-round pick in draft history, putting up more than three times the bWAR of center fielder Bill North with 26.8 in second-place. Only 3.0 bWAR came with the Mets between the 1966-71, before he was traded to the Angels in a package for Jim Fregosi. Ryan is the only Hall of Famer the Mets have ever selected and signed in the draft. 16 years later, in the 1981 Draft, the Mets selected another pitcher in the 12th round who would end up blowing past Ryan’s career bWAR total. But as history would have it, Roger Clemens remained unsigned until he was taken in the first round by the Red Sox two years later.
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