METS SELECT NINE PLAYERS ON DAY TWO OF 2021 DRAFT

 

METS SELECT NINE PLAYERS ON DAY TWO OF 2021 DRAFT

 

FLUSHING, N.Y., July 12, 2021 – The New York Mets today made nine selections in rounds 2-10 to complete day two of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft.

 

In the second round, with the 46^th overall pick, the Mets selected Calvin Ziegler, a right-handed pitcher from TNXL Academy (FL). Ziegler, 18, hails from Ontario, Canada, but spent the 2021 season pitching stateside. He is the top Canadian prospect in this year’s draft class according to MLB Pipeline and has a fastball with velocity that has reached as high as 97 mph.

 

With their third-round pick, New York took Dominic Hamel, a right-handed pitcher from Dallas Baptist University (TX). Hamel, 22, was 13-2 with a 4.22 ERA in 18 games (16 starts) this season. The six-foot, two-inch Chandler, Arizona native ranked in the top 10 in the nation in strikeouts, whiffing 136 batters in 91.2 innings, good for a 13.35 K/9 rate.

 

In the fourth round, New York selected JT Schwartz, an infielder from UCLA. Schwartz, 21, won the Pac-12 batting title this season, slashing .396/.514/.628. In 59 career games with the Bruins, he collected 53 RBI and 25 extra-base hits, including eight home runs. He was named a 2021 All-American and was a member of the 2021 All Pac-12 Team. His .514 OBP during his redshirt sophomore season is the second-highest in UCLA program history.

 

The Mets’ fifth-round pick was Christian Scott, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Florida. Scott, 22, posted a 3.72 ERA during a three-year collegiate career, appearing in 55 games (five starts) for the Gators. In 2021, he struck out a career-high 51 batters in 54.0 innings pitched over 26 appearances. He was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll after the season.

 

Carson Seymour, a right-handed pitcher from Kansas State, was the Mets’ sixth-round choice. The 22-year-old from Temecula, California is a two-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 First Team (2020-2021). His fastball has been clocked at 99 mph and is complemented by his slider, which can hit 90 mph.

 

New York took infielder Kevin Kendall with their seventh-round selection. Kendall, 22, was the second UCLA player chosen by the Mets in this year’s draft. He was the Bruins’ primary shortstop from 2018-2019 before spending most of the 2021 season as their center fielder. Kendall also played 12 games at second base this year for UCLA, sharing the right side of the infield with fellow Mets draftee JT Schwartz, who manned first base all season.

 

In the eighth round, the Mets selected Mike Vasil, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Virginia. Vasil, 21, was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 114 prospect in this year’s draft. He went 11-11 with a 4.74 ERA in 34 appearances during a three-year career with the Cavaliers, including a 7-5 record with a 4.52 ERA (41 earned runs/81.2 innings) during the 2021 season.

 

With their ninth-round pick, New York chose Levi David, a right-handed pitcher from Northwestern State University (LA). David, 22, posted one of the highest strikeout rates in the country this season, fanning 104 in just 61.0 innings (15.34 K/9). He was a state champion swimmer in high school, winning the Texas title in the 50-meter freestyle representing Waxahachie HS.

 

The Mets’ final pick of day two of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft was Keyshawn Askew, a left-handed pitcher from Clemson University (SC). Askew, 21, has appeared as both a starter and a reliever for Clemson over the last three years. In 2021, he struck out 69 batters and walked just 11 in 57.0 innings covering 12 appearances (11 starts).

 

New York will conclude its draft tomorrow with 10 more selections in rounds 11-20.