A brief interlude before the midsummer night’s fling
Full list of 2020 Mets draft picks
In a normal year, the draft would be a background event largely overshadowed by emerging prospects and All-Star voting. This year, the draft was the first big baseball event since spring training ended prematurely due to the worst health crisis this nation has seen in over a century. In the interim, countless prospects and minor league free agents were released, team employees were furloughed, and the fate of dozens of minor league teams was looking grim. It was clear what the priority would be in this draft – saving the owners money.
The details (5 rounds max, deferred bonus money, limit on signing bonuses for undrafted players, etc.) were agreed to rather quickly, unlike the negotiations to start the season. And here we are, with six Mets picks and another six or so undrafted free agent signings. The Mets’ plan here was essentially unchanged from last year, though “grab anyone who will sign for peanuts after the big names are off the board” was practically written into the rules this time. Pete Crow-Armstrong was a perfectly reasonable pick (and he became an instant fan favorite) and J.T. Ginn was signed with money saved on the remaining picks. And there you go, that’s the draft.
Both Crow-Armstrong and Ginn have plenty of cardboard – autographs from Leaf Perfect game, autographs and memorabilia from Panini USA Baseball, etc. It’s pretty barren from there on down except for the Mets’ first undrafted free agent, Brandon McIlwain – he has autographs and memorabilia from 2015 Leaf Perfect Game. When your last cards are in an amateur product from five years ago, you’re just what this team is looking for. Drake Nightengale wins best name of this draft class and that’s all I’ve got. Let the games begin…
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| 1 Pete Crow-Armstrong | 2 J.T. Ginn | 2 Isaiah Greene | 3 Anthony Walters |
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| 4 Matthew Dyer | 5 Eric Orze | Brandon McIlwain (UFA) | Drake Nightengale (UFA) |
| Joe Suozzi (UFA) | Dylan Hall (UFA) | Austin Faith (UFA) | Kody Davidson (UFA) |
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