NEW YORK -- With their first pick in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, the Mets took a college pitcher they can dream on. With their second, they selected a similar type of hitter.
Making their second selection at No. 92 overall, the Mets found significant value in outfielder Aiden Robbins out of the University of Texas. Robbins was ranked the No. 29 Draft prospect by MLB Pipeline.
“Very surprised,” Mets director of amateur scouting Drew Toussaint said when asked about Robbins still being available in the back half of the third round. “It was a guy that we scouted heavily, just attacking the SEC play. A bat that we liked. Really excited when we got to 92 and he was still on the board.”
Over three collegiate seasons, Robbins did little but produce. As a freshman at Seton Hall, he posted an .880 OPS in 43 games. Robbins followed that up by going off as a sophomore, posting a .422/.537/.652 slash line with six home runs. He then transferred to Texas for his junior year and crushed SEC pitching to the tune of 24 home runs and a 1.122 OPS, before essentially doing the same during his time in the Cape Cod League.
Robbins is a classic does-everything-well player who doesn’t necessarily excel in any one area. That’s supported by his MLB Pipeline grades on the 20-80 scouting scale, which include 50-grade or better hitting (55), power (55), running (50), arm (50) and fielding (50). Mets officials believe he’s a strong enough defender to play center field.
If there’s one area to monitor in pro ball, it’s Robbins’ strikeout rate, which elevated from 13% as a sophomore to 23% as a junior with Texas. That dovetails with his home run output also jumping from six as a sophomore to 24 as a junior. If Robbins manages to maintain his power and trim the strikeout rate, he could be a serious force at the dish.
“One of the premier power bats in the country this year,” was how Toussaint described him. “We think it’s a blend bat that can hit and then hit for power as well.”
In addition to Robbins and first-round pick Carson Wiggins, the Mets had one other Day 1 pick:
Shane Sdao, LHP
- Round 4, Pick 120
- Bats/throws: L/L
- School: Texas A&M
- Calling Card: Much like Wiggins, Sdao underwent Tommy John surgery in college but has rebounded effectively, touching 97 mph with his fastball. His calling card, however, is his slider, a sweeping pitch that’s been effective against both right- and left-handed opponents.
- Quote: “It’s a five-pitch mix. The velo saw a little spike this year. We think it’s a mix that can negate right-handed hitters, so it’s a true starter potential. The strikes come easy for him. We think there’s more size to gain, maybe a potential tick or two of velocity. So we really think he’s got a chance to be a starter.” -- vice president of amateur scouting, Kris Gross
After Sdao, the Mets broke for the night, before returning Sunday to make their final 16 picks. A full rundown of the team’s Draft selections is available here.
Rounds 5-10
Early on Day 2, the Mets focused almost exclusively on college pitching, taking right-handed arms from Florida, Auburn, Stanford, Ole Miss, Cal Poly and Dartmouth.
“The pitching in the middle rounds, we were ecstatic to get,” Gross said. “Some of the best strength in the Draft was that mid-tier college pitching -- a lot of guys there with the traits we’re looking for as far as athleticism, strength, strikes. So we’re excited about that.”
Player to watch: Luke McNeillie, RHP
- Round 5, Pick 152
- Bats/throws: L/R
- School: University of Florida
- Calling Card: The Mets have a notable recent history of drafting pitchers from Florida, most prominently with Christian Scott, who’s currently in the big league rotation. The latest in that line is McNellie, who -- like Scott -- spent most of his time at Florida in the bullpen. If McNellie can translate his upper-90s stuff to a starting role, his prospect stock should only grow.
- Quote: “He’s got the repertoire that we think will translate into a starting rotation. The fastball plays against both left-handed hitters and right-handed hitters. The slider we think is plus, and the changeup is coming on.” -- Gross
Rounds 11-15
The Mets stayed glued to the college ranks in these rounds, mostly taking additional pitchers, with one notable exception.
Player to watch: Jacob Madrid, C
- Round 13, Pick 390
- Bats/throws: R/R
- School: Notre Dame (Calif.) HS
- Calling Card: It took 13 rounds for the Mets to dip into the high school population. When they finally did so, they spent their pick on Madrid, a 6-foot-4 catcher who rated 171st on MLB Pipeline’s Draft board -- 219 spots lower than the Mets actually took him. Madrid’s strength is his defense behind the plate; his future will depend on how much he actually hits as a professional. Mets officials are optimistic they can sign Madrid away from a college commitment to Oregon.
- Quote: “Big-bodied kid, athletic, kind of advanced defensively -- strong arm. And we’re excited about the power. We think there’s a ton of upside to develop him into a possible everyday catcher. ” -- Toussaint
Rounds 16-20
The Mets selected two more college juniors in pitchers Dustin Hagens Jr. and Gavin Guidry, before pivoting to some other areas -- college seniors and, to round out the Draft, a pair of position players. They wound up selecting 13 pitchers and six hitters in the Draft.
Player to watch: Gavin Guidry, RHP
- Round 16, Pick 480
- Bats/throws: R/R
- School: LSU
- Calling Card: No, there’s no relation to Ron Guidry, another Louisiana born-and-bred pitcher. But Gavin Guidry has some lightning in his own arm, including what Gross called “a very good slider.” Guidry showcased that and more in recording the final six outs of the 2023 College World Series Finals. Though he regressed a bit to post a 5.82 ERA as a junior, Guidry did still strike out 59 batters over 43 1/3 innings.