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The Mets selected North Carolina pitcher Matt Harvey with their first pick in the MLB Draft.
Harvey, 21, went 7-3 in 13 starts while compiling a 3.10 ERA this season for the Tar Heels. He was originally selected in the third round by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2007 draft, but the Angels were unable to sign him.
According to SB Nation’s MLB Draft site, MLB Bonus Baby, this is a solid pick.
Scouts still point to his awful mechanics last year, but he’s improved so much that it seems to be a dead issue, and he projects as a number two starter if things come together exactly right. His fastball is an easy plus pitch, getting some plus-plus grades, as he sits 92-95 most nights and can pump it up to 97, and he holds velocity deep into games, even when asked to throw absurd numbers of pitches. His breaking ball is a potential plus slider, which is distinctly different from the curveball he threw as a prep, which has gone by the wayside. His changeup is only a fringe-average pitch, but he gets by with his two plus pitches with ease. Even with Scott Boras still as his adviser, he’s expected to go in the top twenty picks, and he should command something around $2 million.
Be sure to visit Amazin’ Avenue, the SB Nation Mets blog, for more reaction.