2020 MLB mock draft has Mets selecting pitcher with ace potential in first round

Jared Kelley is one of the top-ranked prospects in the country

5/13/2020, 7:11 PM
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The Mets have the No. 19 overall pick in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft, expected to take place in a virtual format on June 10.

Since taking Matt Harvey in the first round of the 2010 draft, the Mets have selected a pitcher with their first round selection just twice in the last nine drafts -- Justin Dunn in 2016 and David Peterson in 2017.

New York also added two high-end arms during the 2019 draft when it nabbed Josh Wolf in the second round and took advantage in the third round, selecting Matthew Allan after he dropped out of the first round due to signability concerns.

When it comes to who the Mets will go with when they pick at No. 19 on June 10, both ESPN and Baseball America have them going for starting pitchers.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel predicts that the Mets will take Miami RHP Slade Cecconi.

Baseball America's Carlos Collazo has the Mets going with Refugio High School (Texas) RHP Jared Kelley.

The 18-year-old Kelley, ranked as the No. 11 prospect in the draft by MLB Pipeline, is touted in their scouting report as the best high school pitcher to come out of Texas in the last decade. And he has legitimate ace potential.

"Kelley combines his now stuff with feel for pitching," the publication writes. "The Texas recruit pounds the strike zone and has the look of a front line starter who could reach the big leagues before he turns 21. His strong, physically mature frame and the ease of his delivery should allow him to log plenty of innings."

Cecconi, who was in the middle of his sophomore season with the Hurricanes before it was paused due to the coronavirus pandemic, had a 3.80 ERA in 21.1 IP in 2020 after posting a 4.16 ERA in 80 IP during his freshman campaign.

While the 21-year-old Cecconi's numbers weren't eye-popping in college, the potential is there.

Ranked as the No. 31 prospect in the country by MLB Pipeline, their scouting report on Cecconi notes that he's one of the most exciting draft-eligible sophomores in the country.

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