Mets, 1st-rounder Williams in accord (source)

July 22nd, 2022

NEW YORK -- The Mets have agreed to a deal with first-round Draft pick Jett Williams with a bonus worth $3.9 million, a source told MLB.com's Jim Callis on Friday.

The team hasn't confirmed the terms of the deal.

Williams, an 18-year-old shortstop from Rockwall-Heath High School in Texas, was at Citi Field on Friday before the Mets' second-half opener against the Padres, wearing a No. 22 Mets jersey.

"It feels amazing, just knowing all the hard work is paying off now," Williams said. "I'm proud to be a Met. Can't wait to get to work."

Williams said he leaves for Florida next week to join the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Mets. 

The Mets drafted Williams 14th overall, the second of their two first-round Draft picks. They selected Georgia Tech University catcher Kevin Parada 11th overall. 

Williams' signing bonus would be slightly under the slot value for the No. 14 overall pick, which is $4,243,800.

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Williams was ranked the No. 21 Draft prospect by MLB Pipeline. He has one of the best combinations of hitting and speed of any player in the 2022 Draft class, with the ability to play shortstop or center field in the pros.

Williams said he was hoping to get a chance to talk to Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor while he's in New York. He already has gone to Mets prospects Brett Baty and Rowdey Jordan for advice on playing in the Minor Leagues.

"This is the ultimate goal," Williams said at Citi Field, referring to the big leagues. "You definitely don't want to be down [in the Minors] long. … I feel like I'll just go out there and play my game and, hopefully, be up here in a couple of years."

Williams already has New York connections. He used to live on Long Island, in Port Jefferson, from ages 2-4, and his dad and his brother both went to Stony Brook University. 

"This is kind of like a second home," Williams said.