Mets select third baseman Brett Baty with No. 12 overall pick in MLB Draft
Brett Baty, a third baseman from Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, adjusts his jersey after being selected No. 12 by the New York Mets in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft, Monday, June 3, 2019, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Credit: AP/Julio Cortez
Third baseman Brett Baty and righthander Josh Wolf, Texas high schoolers with big-time power and a big-time curveball, respectively, are the newest names to know in the Mets’ farm system.
The Mets took Baty in the first round (12th overall) of the MLB Draft Monday night, their first pick under general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. Wolf followed in the second round (53rd overall).
Tommy Tanous, the Mets’ vice president of scouting, said the team feels it snagged the top prep hitter and top prep pitcher in the draft.
For Baty, the news came as part of a whirlwind few days. He was one of four players to attend the draft at the MLB Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. On Tuesday, he’ll fly back to Texas, where he will play with his Lake Travis High (Austin) team in a state semifinal Friday.
“It was a dream come true to be at the draft, hear my name called, to shake the commissioner’s hand and have my family here supporting me,” Baty said. “It was honestly a dream come true to have that happen.”
Listed at 6-3 and 210 pounds, Baty, 19, a lefthanded hitter and righthanded thrower, was the No. 15 prospect in the draft, according to Baseball America. BA also ranked him as having the second-best power and third-best strike-zone judgment among high schoolers.
Although the Mets plan to play him at third — and an eventual switch to a corner outfield spot is possible but not expected — Baty has reached 92 mph on the mound.
Baty said he tries to model his game after Christian Yelich, the defending NL MVP, and Joey Votto, a six-time All-Star.
“I’ve always told myself to hit the ball to all fields,” Baty said. “I feel like doing that kind of sets me apart from some of the other better hitters in this class. I have power to all fields, which helps me out, so I can stay back on some pitches sand stuff like that and just hit the ball where it’s pitched.”
Tanous said: “This is a player that we really look for offensively, someone who can control the zone and impact the baseball. There was a lot to like with him.”
Through 37 games Baty is hitting .615 with a 1.333 slugging percentage, 19 homers and 50 RBIs. He also has a 0.84 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings on the mound.
The No. 12 pick comes with a $4,366,400 bonus slot. The Mets don’t expect Baty’s commitment to the University of Texas to be an issue.
Wolf, who is 6-2 and 200 pounds and goes to St. Thomas High in Houston, is committed to Texas A&M. He impressed this spring with a mid-90s fastball and above-average curveball.
