Mets begin what they hope will be a franchise-altering MLB Draft

LOS ANGELES – It was a powerful human moment when Kevin Parada, the Mets first selection in the 2022 amateur draft, walked into a building next to the main stage in order to meet the New York media for the first time. Before reporters got to him, a thick scrum of family members exploded into cheers, hugs and tears. Mr. and Mrs. Met were in there somewhere, posing for photos.

“I can’t even put together words about how I feel,” Parada, 20, said moments later. “I’m just so happy.’

A young man had seen part of his dream fulfilled – and, for the Mets organization, one of the most important drafts in team history had begun. Parada, the 11th overall pick on Sunday, was considered one of the best hitters in the draft and will join Francisco Alvarez in an extremely high-end tandem of catching prospects in the organization.

A few minutes later, the Mets’ two-day odyssey to improve their farm system continued with the selection of a high-school shortstop, Jett Williams, at 14th overall.

This particular draft is so important to the Mets, and team brass all the way up to Steve Cohen are following closely, for two reasons: The two high picks, and a desire shared by Cohen, team president Sandy Alderson and general manager Billy Eppler to accelerate the construction of an organization.

For the better part of a decade, Tommy Tanous, Marc Tramuta and the team’s amateur scouts have facilitated successful drafts; the Mets’ amateur department is highly regarded enough to have remained largely intact through changes in ownership and several GMs. But Brodie Van Wagenen, Zack Scott and Eppler have spent the past few years trading prospects in an effort to win at the big-league level.

To be clear, trying to win MLB games is admirable. Even Van Wagenen’s once-reviled 2018 trade with the Seattle Mariners is looking better than ever with Edwin Diaz dominating, and Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn yet to make an impact in Seattle.

But in Cohen’s quest to build an East Coast version of the Los Angeles Dodgers, he is interested in overseeing a strong drafting and player development system, rather than having to be the high bidder for outside talent.

Think of it this way: Throwing money at Francisco Lindor and Max Scherzer was a band-aid, a bridge until the Mets can produce more of their stars. That was supposed to begin last year, but the Mets were not comfortable signing first round pick Kumar Rocker after Rocker’s physical examination (the Texas Rangers chose Rocker third overall this year). As compensation for that, the Mets received the 11th pick, which they used to select Parada near his Pasadena hometown, with his family going wild.

Now Parada joins an organization working hard to remake itself by producing enough homegrown talent to offset the cost of the stars. In the coming days, the Mets will ask themselves if it is worth trading from that talent to acquire Juan Soto, or if it’s the wrong time to empty the farm.

If they go that route, Sunday’s draft will help the team restock. If they hold on to Alvarez, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and others, Parada and Williams become a part of a system that suddenly has more depth.

It’s a start.