The Mets have agreed to terms with shortstop A.J. Ewing, the club announced Saturday.
Ewing, who was selected with the 134th overall pick in the compensatory round after the fourth round, had committed to play at the University of Alabama but indicated he would sign with the club after he was drafted.
The Mets drafted Ewing out of Springboro High School in Ohio with an over-slot of $675,000, according to MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis (The pick's value was $483,000.)
“When I was a little kid I always dreamed of being a professional baseball player, not a college baseball player,” Ewing told the Butler County, Ohio-based Journal-News. “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-pound infielder, who bats from the left side and throws right-handed, was ranked No. 3 overall in his draft class from the state of Ohio and the No. 2 ranked shortstop, according to Perfect Game. Nationally, Ewing ranked 61st overall and 20th at his position.
SNY contributor Joe DeMayo wrote 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.”
The pick to draft Ewing came from New York losing pitcher Jacob deGrom to the Texas Rangers in free agency last offseason.
The Mets also announced the signing of two third-round picks RHP/DH Nolan McLean and RHP Kade Morris on Saturday, following the signings on Friday of first-round pick shortstop Colin Houck and second-round pick RHP Brandon Sproat and eighth-round pick INF Boston Baro.