Recapping New York Mets' 2026 Draft Class: College Pitchers Rule the Day

The 2026 MLB Draft offered the league's 30 franchises the opportunity to add its next wave of stars. This year, the New York Mets had a clear plan to add pitching depth to the organization. They accomplished that goal by spending 13 of their 19 selections -- and six of their first seven choices -- on collegiate arms.

In all, New York utilized nearly half its picks (9) on players from college baseball's consensus top conference (SEC). The Mets only dipped into the high school ranks for two players, including a catcher in the 13th round that easily could have been selected much earlier.

No matter where these players were chosen, or where they were plucked from, they're now on the same team, competing together and against one another for the same goal: to reach the majors. Let's break down the totality of the New York Mets' 2026 draft class:

Round 1, Pick No. 27: Carson Wiggins, RHP - Arkansas

Wiggins did not play for the Razorbacks in 2026 due to injury. The prior year, he racked up 20 strikeouts in 14 innings out of the bullpen. He is the 16th Arkansas player, and seventh Hogs' pitcher, to be a first-round MLB Draft choice. He now has bragging rights over his brother, Jaxon, who went No. 68 overall (Chicago Cubs) in the 2023 MLB Draft.

Round 3, Pick No. 92: Aiden Robbins, OF - Texas

The Mets surely had more access to watch Robbins in-person when he was at Seton Hall in 2024 and 2025. He was unfazed by the higher caliber of competition the SEC offered, posting a .333/.426/.696 slash line (1,122 OPS) for the Longhorns in 2026. 

Round 4, Pick No. 120: Shane Sdao, LHP - Texas A&M

Sdao is a rarity in college sports these days, having stayed an Aggie for his entire collegiate career. His ERA ballooned to a 7.07 last season, but he still tallied 83 strikeouts across 71 1/3 innings.

For an extended read of the Mets' first three draft choices, click here.

Round 5, Pick No. 152: Luke McNeillie, RHP - Florida

McNeillie's 18 appearances in 2026 were his fewest in any single campaign as a Gator. His 3.97 ERA, though, was the best of his career. Forty-eight strikeouts in 34 frames is also far from shabby.

Round 6, Pick No. 181: Alex Petrovic, RHP - Auburn

Through two years on The Plains, Petrovic made 14 appearances (5 starts) for the Tigers. He made 17 starts in year three, producing a 92:24 K:BB ratio and 10-2 record across 92 2/3 innings. Like McNeillie, his college-best ERA (3.21) came in 2026.

Round 7, Pick No. 210: Aidan Keenan, RHP - Stanford

Keenan functioned as a reliever in 2025, but six of his seven appearances in 2026 were starts. His best outing of the season came versus Cal State Fullerton, against whom he fired six innings of one-hit ball against on Feb. 21.

Round 8, Pick No. 240: Landon Koenig, RHP - Ole Miss

The ERA for Koenig (6.35) doesn't jump off the page, but 33 punchouts in 22 2/3 frames does. The North Dakota native posted a career WHIP of 1.77, though, hinting that he'll need to focus on his command if he wants to rise through the system.

Round 9, Pick No. 270: Ryan Tayman, C - Cal Poly

Tayman earned Co-Big West Player of the Year honors last season behind a .357/.447/,.672 slash line and 38 extra-base hits. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament's Los Angeles Regional after hitting .500 to lead the Mustangs to the Super Regionals.

Round 10, Pick No. 300: Nate Isler, RHP - Dartmouth 

At 6-foot-6, Isler holds a big presence on the bump. He tossed at least six frames in seven of 11 starts for Big Green a season ago, including a game against Columbia where he went 9 2/3 innings. Dartmouth got the win that day, but he had a no-decision.

Round 11, Pick No. 330: Kuhio Aloy, OF - Arkansas

Aloy took a step back in 2026, as his OPS dropped more than 100 points (.943 to .838). We don't mention this to bash him; in fact, it's the opposite. The Mets helping him regain his 2025 form would be quite the coup this late in the draft.

Round 12, Pick No. 360: AJ Krodel, RHP - UC Santa Barbara

Jackson Flora was the Gauchos' headliner last year, but Krodel led the team in appearances (25). Each of those outings were in relief, but his four-pitch mix -- fastball, changeup, sweeper and curveball -- suggests there's starting potential in his arm.

Round 13, Pick No. 390: Jacob Madrid, C - Notre Dame High School

Madrid, New York's first high school selection, is an Oregon commit. The 6-foot-5 backstop was MLB.com's No. 171 draft prospect and is lauded for an "advanced" defensive package, which scouts believe give him a high floor. Madrid hails from the same high school as big leaguers Hunter Greene and Giancarlo Stanton.

Round 14, Pick No. 420: Zach Crotchfelt, LHP - Troy

Crotchfelt ranked second on the Trojans in appearances (29) and ERA (3.49) last year. His efforts helped Troy reach the College World Series for the first time. In Omaha, he recorded the final three outs of the program's first CWS victory, a 12-8 win over Ole Miss.

Round 15, Pick No. 450: Dustin Hagens Jr., RHP - Missouri-St. Louis

You probably haven't seen Hagen twirl a baseball before, considering he's a Division-II player. He posted a 3.89 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings for the Tritons. Nine of his 18 walks came in his first three appearances (10 IP). The Mets hope the strides he made in that area will stick.

Round 16, Pick No. 480: Gavin Guidry, RHP - LSU

A back injury sidelined Guidry for the entirety of 2025. Prior to his ailment (2022-24), he pitched his way to a 3.23 ERA. He got back into the swing of things by striking out 59 batters in 43 2/3 innings this year.

Round 17, Pick No. 510: Cooper Dossett, RHP - Arkansas

Dossett is the third Razorback of this New York draft class. He allowed seven earned runs in his first two appearances of 2026, but yielded just six in the 14 appearances that followed.

Round 18, Pick No. 540: Marcus Ward, OF - Kings Ridge Christian High School

Ward, the second high school draftee of the Mets, is a Western Carolina commit. There's optimism that he'll be able to play center field because of his speed. As a hitter, he projects to have more of a contact tool than true power stroke.

Round 19, Pick 570: John Smith III, OF - UCF

Smith was a second-team All-Big 12 choice in 2026 thanks to a .322/.383/.574 slash line. He paced the Knights with 49 RBIs, seven of which came in a doubleheader against Utah. That day, he went 7-for-11 (.636) with three home runs.

Round 20, Pick 600: Kooper Schulte, SS - Iowa

Schulte spent time at two community colleges -- Central Arizona and Southeastern -- before latching on at Iowa in 2024. Last season, he homered twice in a game against Nebraska and led the Hawkeyes with 18 doubles.

Check out our 2026 MLB Draft tracker, with scouting reports, player information, total pool allotments, and much more!