With their first pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the Mets took high school outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, a defensive stud whose mix of bat-to-ball ability, developing power, and speed could eventually make him their center fielder of the future and a table-setter at the top of the lineup.
In addition to his physical tools, the 18-year-old Armstrong is not lacking in the confidence department -- something that helped draw the attention of Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen.
"We want to have players who aren't afraid to show emotion on the field," Van Wagenen said Wednesday night. "Pete is one of those guys. He's a Southern California kid, he grew up in the same area I grew up. He knows how to play in front of the spotlight. He's one of those kids that's been on the national radar screen since he was 12 years old. ... He's been a big fish in a big pond for a long time and I think his personality and his confidence will play very well in New York City."
Here's what scouts have said about Crow-Armstrong...
Crow-Armstrong stood out early on in his high school career because of his ability to hit and run. Some swing and miss over this summer had some evaluators concerned, but he does have a track record of making a lot of loud contact. While he's clearly hit over power, he's stronger than some people think and there should be pop in the future, with some of that strength and power showing up before things were shut down. A plus runner, he can really play center and might be the best defensive outfielder in the class. - MLB Pipeline
(Grady) Sizemore was 25-30 HR guy in his prime, (Brett) Gardner more 15-20 (not counting last year's jacked up baseballs). So (Pete Crow-Armstrong) is more Gardner. Good bat, speed & CF defense, could be very nice for @Mets at No. 19.. - Jim Callis, MLB.com
The Mets had been on high school bats all spring and ended up getting one, Pete Crow-Armstrong, the best defensive outfielder in that group. Crow-Armstrong got a good bit stronger in the offseason and came out this spring like a house on fire against local competition in Southern California - he's from the same school that produced Lucas Giolito, Jack Flaherty and Max Fried - although he doesn't project to power. He could have a strong leadoff profile with plus defense in center. - Keith Law, The Athletic
All spring I called him 'the left-handed magician' in center field," Tanous said. "He was one of the rare players where you would watch batting practice and watch him play defense. ... When I see a defensive player who likes to show their tools and likes to show off like that in pregame while he's getting his work done, I know you have a pretty advanced defensive player. ... We see Pete as a top-of-the-order type hitter. He has such advanced bat-to-ball skills. ... High contact guy, with some power behind it. And it's been increasing power since he was 15 years old. He keeps getting stronger. His path to the ball has been great. His plate awareness is tremendous, his discipline at the plate. - Tommy Tanous, Mets director of amateur scouting
Video: WATCH: Mets 1st round pick, Pete Crow-Armstrong