The New York Mets hold the No. 38 pick in the 2025 MLB draft next week, allowing David Stearns to get to work. Stearns continues to prove that he knows what he’s doing regarding talent evaluation with big league players, and has also drafted well in the past.Â
According to reports, Stearns loves athletic players who could grow into stars.Â
When recently looking at who the Mets will select, The Sporting Tribune had them doing just that by taking Mason Neville, an outfielder out of the University of Oregon who has big-time power in his bat.Â
âThe Mets continue to be rumored to toolsy college performers. Neville led the nation in home runs and offers some defensive value as a center fielder, while someone like Kyle Lodise — who hit his way to becoming a Golden Spikes finalist — would also fit the mold. I’ve left some college pitchers off the board, which may be a mistake on my end since they’ll be such a commodity but just haven’t been able to place them despite some connections — Eyanson in particular in this range,â they wrote.
Mets Need to Replenish Their Farm System
There are some questions about what the New York Mets will do at the trade deadline, but having top prospects like Neville and others is important.Â
However, the Mets must also be cautious here. While their farm system is decent, it’s not as if the Mets have done a great job of calling players up and having them succeed immediately. Frankly, New York will likely win because of its ability to spend money.
ESPN recently questioned whether the Mets will believe they have enough talent in their upper minor league system to lean on a high schooler with their first pick.Â
Neville, clearly, wouldn’t be that.Â
âOne big question: Is there enough depth in the Mets’ upper minors that they will lean into high schoolers with their first few picks?
âThe Mets’ upper minors depth is impressive right now, with Jett Williams, Francisco Alvarez, Drew Gilbert, Jacob Riemer, Luisangel Acuna, and Ryan Clifford leading the way behind Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, and Ronny Mauricio in the big leagues. On the pitching side, they have Jonah Tong, Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, Blade Tidwell, Dom Hamel, and the injured Christian Scott ready to contribute this year or next. This young depth around the big league team could allow them to lean into high schoolers and high-variance talent with the second-lowest bonus pool in the draft,â they wrote.
Throughout the 2025 season at the University of Oregon, where he spent two seasons after debuting in college at the University of Arkansas, Neville swung the bat at a very high level. He hit 26 home runs and posted an OPS of 1.152.
His batting average hasn’t been great during his college career, hitting .270, but considering he hit 42 home runs, it’s easy to see why no team would be too worried about that.Â
Nevilleâs Fit in the Major Leagues
Ultimately, MLB.com believes scouts view him as a high upside pick, and that’s exactly what the New York Mets have been interested in since Stearns has taken over.
âNeville has long intrigued scouts with his overall athleticism and offensive potential from the left side of the plate, reminding some from his high school days of a young Cody Bellinger. The raw power is very real, and a year after hitting 16 homers with a 33.5 percent strikeout rate, Neville has jumped up boards by greatly cutting down his swing-and-miss, allowing him to get to that pop even more consistently for the 26 homers that tied for the NCAA Division I home run title,â they wrote.
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