The
New York Mets are a
Major League Baseballfranchise based in New York City. They play in the
National League East division. Since the institution of Major League Baseball's
Rule 4 Draft, the Mets have selected 63 players in its first round. Officially known as the "First-Year Player Draft",[1] the Rule 4 Draft is Major League Baseball's primary mechanism for assigning amateur baseball players from high schools, colleges, and other amateur baseball clubs to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, and the team that had the worst record receives the first pick.[1] In addition, teams that lost
free agents in the previous off-season may be awarded
compensatory or supplementary picks.[2] The First-Year Player Draft is unrelated to the
1961 expansion draft in which the Mets initially filled their roster.
Of the 63 players picked in the first round by the Mets, 25 have been
pitchers, the most of any position; 18 of these were right-handed, while seven were left-handed. 18 of the players picked in the initial round were
outfielders, while eight
shortstops, six
catchers, and three
third basemen were selected. The team also selected two players at
first base and one at
second base.[3] 14 of the players came from high schools or universities in the state of
California, while
Florida and
Texas follow, with nine and five players, respectively.[3]
The Mets have made 11 selections in the supplemental round of the draft. They have also made the
first overall selection five times (
1966,
1968,
1980,
1984, and
1994), tied for the most such picks with the
San Diego Padres.[3][9] The first of these picks,
Steve Chilcott (1966), is one of only two first overall picks (along with
Brien Taylor) to never play in the major leagues.[10] The Mets have had 18 compensatory picks since the institution of the First-Year Player Draft in 1965. These additional picks are provided when a team loses a particularly valuable free agent in the prior off-season,[V][2][11] or, more recently, if a team fails to sign a draft pick from the previous year.[12] One player, George Ambrow (1970), did not sign with the Mets after he was drafted but they received no compensation pick.[13]
VFree agents are evaluated by the
Elias Sports Bureau and rated "Type A", "Type B", or not compensation eligible. If a team offers
arbitration to a player but that player refuses and subsequently signs with another team, the original team may receive additional draft picks. If a "Type A" free agent leaves in this way his previous team receives a supplemental pick and a compensation pick from the team with which he signs. If a "Type B" free agent leaves in this way his previous team receives only a supplemental pick.[12]
q The Mets lost their original first-round pick in 2007 to the
San Francisco Giants as compensation for signing free agent
Moisés Alou but gained a supplemental first-round pick for losing free agent
Roberto Hernández.[54]
r The Mets gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2007 for losing free agent
Chad Bradford.[54]
s The Mets gained a compensatory first-round pick in 2008 from the
Atlanta Braves for losing free agent
Tom Glavine.[55]
t The Mets gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2008 for losing free agent Tom Glavine.[65]
The
New York Mets are a
Major League Baseballfranchise based in New York City. They play in the
National League East division. Since the institution of Major League Baseball's
Rule 4 Draft, the Mets have selected 63 players in its first round. Officially known as the "First-Year Player Draft",[1] the Rule 4 Draft is Major League Baseball's primary mechanism for assigning amateur baseball players from high schools, colleges, and other amateur baseball clubs to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, and the team that had the worst record receives the first pick.[1] In addition, teams that lost
free agents in the previous off-season may be awarded
compensatory or supplementary picks.[2] The First-Year Player Draft is unrelated to the
1961 expansion draft in which the Mets initially filled their roster.
Of the 63 players picked in the first round by the Mets, 25 have been
pitchers, the most of any position; 18 of these were right-handed, while seven were left-handed. 18 of the players picked in the initial round were
outfielders, while eight
shortstops, six
catchers, and three
third basemen were selected. The team also selected two players at
first base and one at
second base.[3] 14 of the players came from high schools or universities in the state of
California, while
Florida and
Texas follow, with nine and five players, respectively.[3]
The Mets have made 11 selections in the supplemental round of the draft. They have also made the
first overall selection five times (
1966,
1968,
1980,
1984, and
1994), tied for the most such picks with the
San Diego Padres.[3][9] The first of these picks,
Steve Chilcott (1966), is one of only two first overall picks (along with
Brien Taylor) to never play in the major leagues.[10] The Mets have had 18 compensatory picks since the institution of the First-Year Player Draft in 1965. These additional picks are provided when a team loses a particularly valuable free agent in the prior off-season,[V][2][11] or, more recently, if a team fails to sign a draft pick from the previous year.[12] One player, George Ambrow (1970), did not sign with the Mets after he was drafted but they received no compensation pick.[13]
VFree agents are evaluated by the
Elias Sports Bureau and rated "Type A", "Type B", or not compensation eligible. If a team offers
arbitration to a player but that player refuses and subsequently signs with another team, the original team may receive additional draft picks. If a "Type A" free agent leaves in this way his previous team receives a supplemental pick and a compensation pick from the team with which he signs. If a "Type B" free agent leaves in this way his previous team receives only a supplemental pick.[12]
q The Mets lost their original first-round pick in 2007 to the
San Francisco Giants as compensation for signing free agent
Moisés Alou but gained a supplemental first-round pick for losing free agent
Roberto Hernández.[54]
r The Mets gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2007 for losing free agent
Chad Bradford.[54]
s The Mets gained a compensatory first-round pick in 2008 from the
Atlanta Braves for losing free agent
Tom Glavine.[55]
t The Mets gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2008 for losing free agent Tom Glavine.[65]