The Mets didn’t have to wait long for one of their 2023 draft picks to decide to sign with the club as A.J. Ewing out of Springboro High School in Ohio has elected to forego college baseball and sign a pro contract instead.

A fourth-round pick, No. 134 overall, the shortstop was committed to play at Alabama. After getting drafted he quickly pivoted his plans to become a professional baseball player.

“When I was a little kid I always dreamed of being a professional baseball player, not a college baseball player,” Ewing told Journal-News.com. “If I get my feet wet now, get used to that kind of schedule, just being a baseball player, not having to worry about the schoolwork and all the outside distractions, I just feel like I’ll be in a better spot long term.”

The 6-foot, 175-pounder was ranked No. 3 overall in his draft class in the state of Ohio and the No. 2 ranked shortstop, according to Perfect Game. Nationally, Ewing ranked 61st overall and 20th at his position.

“Going into day one of the draft, I knew that I’d probably be drafted around the third or fourth, just depends who else gets picked ahead of me and who opts out of the draft,” he said. “But I knew I’d be around there.”

The Mets selected Ewing with the compensation pick they got after Jacob deGrom signed with the Texas Rangers during the offseason.

SNY MLB Prospects writer, Joe DeMayo, writes that Ewing has “big-time bat speed with surprising power given his size to the pull side.” The 18-year-old also “shows an ability to barrel up the ball and consistently had exit velocities over 90 mph while training with wood” and has “good actions in the field,” although his arm strength “likely makes him a second baseman long-term.”

It’s an evaluation that Ewing, who bats left-handed and throws right-handed, likely agrees with.

“I’m definitely a hitter first,” he said. “I’ve seen the highest level of high school pitching through the summers, so velocity is not going to faze me. The main adjustment will be the breaking stuff at this level is definitely going to be a lot better. I’m going to have to be more consistent with my swing.”

Another draft pick out of high school that intends to forego college baseball and sign with the Mets is 16th-round pick Jake Zitella out of St. Charles East High School in Illinois.

The third baseman was committed to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, but instead he and Ewing will report to Port St. Lucie where they will play in the Florida Complex League.

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