Mets 2022 Round One Draft Pick - 11th Overall - Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech

 

With their first selection in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Mets have taken Catcher Kevin Parada, Age 20, DOB, 8/3/2001.

Analysis by David J. Rubin - 

"I just got off the phone very briefly with one of my scout friends. He said this was a steal of a pick at number 11 and that this kid is fantastic...He said he's a great kid that his skill set behind the plate has steadily improved and with two years with instructors in the minors he will be a very good quality catcher...And that his bat is incredible...a lot of people really had him going between picks number three and six and with catching being at such a premium today the Mets did extremely well for themselves..."

After the Pick was announced on ESPN they said "having two good hitting catchers (Parada and Francisco Alvarez) would give the Mets the option to keep each fresh over the year

From MLB.com:

"Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Arm: 45 | Field: 50 | Overall: 60

One of the best high school catchers in the 2020 Draft, Parada could have gone in the second or third round if he hadn't been set on attending Georgia Tech. After a strong freshman season and summer with the U.S. collegiate national team, he's expected to be the first backstop selected in 2022. His defense drew some mixed reviews during his college debut but his bat earned praise throughout and he set a school record with 26 homers this spring." 

Hitting Stats:

Register Batting

Year	Age	AgeDif	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
2021	19	-2.1	Georgia Tech	ACC	NCAA		52	243	220	42	70	20	2	9	42	1	1	17	41	.318	.379	.550	.929	121		5	0	1
2021	19	-1.3	Chatham	CCBL	Smr		9	32	28	4	7	2	0	0	3	1	0	4	3	.250	.344	.321	.665	9		0	0	0	1
2022	20	-1.0	Georgia Tech	ACC	NCAA		60	305	258	79	93	10	1	26	88	11	1	30	32	.361	.453	.709	1.162	183		15	0	2
2022	20		2 Teams	2 Lgs	A-Rk	NYM	13	55	40	6	11	3	0	1	8	0	1	12	13	.275	.455	.425	.880	17	1	2	0	1	0
2022	20	-1.2	St. Lucie	FLOR	A	NYM	10	41	29	5	8	1	0	1	5	0	1	10	12	.276	.463	.414	.877	12	1	1	0	1	0
2022	20	0.2	Mets	FCL	Rk	NYM	3	14	11	1	3	2	0	0	3	0	0	2	1	.273	.429	.455	.883	5	0	1	0	0	0
2023	21	-1.3	Brooklyn	SALL	A+	NYM	71	310	272	37	73	17	4	8	32	1	2	29	73	.268	.355	.449	.803	122	3	8	0	1	0
Minors (2 seasons)					Minors		84	365	312	43	84	20	4	9	40	1	3	41	86	.269	.370	.446	.815	139	4	10	0	2	0
College (2 seasons)					College		112	548	478	121	163	30	3	35	130	12	2	47	73	.341	.420	.636	1.056	304		20	0	3
Other (1 season)					Other		9	32	28	4	7	2	0	0	3	1	0	4	3	.250	.344	.321	.665	9		0	0	0	1
All Levels (3 Seasons)							205	945	818	168	254	52	7	44	173	14	5	92	162	.311	.398	.553	.951	452		30	0	5	1
A+ (1 season)					Minors		71	310	272	37	73	17	4	8	32	1	2	29	73	.268	.355	.449	.803	122	3	8	0	1	0
A (1 season)					Minors		10	41	29	5	8	1	0	1	5	0	1	10	12	.276	.463	.414	.877	12	1	1	0	1	0
Rk (1 season)					Minors		3	14	11	1	3	2	0	0	3	0	0	2	1	.273	.429	.455	.883	5	0	1	0	0	0

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/11/2023.

Welcome to the Big Apple, Kevin! 🍎

With the 11th pick in the #MLBDraft, we have selected C Kevin Parada from Georgia Tech. pic.twitter.com/bIT5WlKQgO

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 18, 2022

Mets take Kevin Parada of @GTBaseball throwback to that time this season where he hit 5 bombs in a week

pic.twitter.com/E6EZK8QlWQ

— Stephen Schoch (@bigdonkey47) July 18, 2022

Mets select catcher Kevin Parada with the 11th overall pick!

After setting the Georgia Tech record with 26 HR this season, he was a Final 3 Finalist for the Golden Spikes award pic.twitter.com/jeHyO9ZI82

— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) July 18, 2022

A message for #Mets fans from #11 pick @parada_kevin_. 🗣 pic.twitter.com/r1VXDjrEzJ

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 18, 2022

The #11 overall pick, Kevin Parada, in his new @Mets threads. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ed9xBQfJov

— Mets Farm Report (@MetsFarmReport) July 18, 2022

New Mets draft pick Kevin Parada: "I like to win."

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 18, 2022

Excited is an understatement, @parada_kevin_. 😁 pic.twitter.com/jfGTWNvitb

— Mets Farm Report (@MetsFarmReport) July 18, 2022

"Parada is one of the best bats in this class who I had inside the top 5 on my big board"@PSLToFlushing on the Mets' selection of C Kevin Parada: https://t.co/uRaGXxKEUw pic.twitter.com/G9UalWR3JJ

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 18, 2022

"Nothing's better than this feeling right now"

Mets draft pick Kevin Parada talks with @martinonyc about how it feels to be drafted by the Mets: pic.twitter.com/G2qbeu5hKC

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 18, 2022

"I'm so happy now. I'm really excited to get going."

- Kevin Parada pic.twitter.com/vwjR5rAtov

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 18, 2022

Kevin Parada describes himself as a player:

"I want to win. I'm a leader. I can hit. The whole goal is to win ballgames." pic.twitter.com/eSfOmWl7V4

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 18, 2022

"Super excited to be part of the Mets and I know that they're going to evaluate where I need to work"

Kevin Parada talks about the next steps in improving his game: pic.twitter.com/E7nysaMLeL

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 18, 2022

"The Mets have the pieces. They're doing everything right and they're winning ballgames. That's very important. I like to win, so if I can do anything to become a part of the Mets and make them a better club, then I'm gonna do everything in my power."

- Kevin Parada pic.twitter.com/im0E6YVTm9

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 18, 2022

Mets VP of Amateur and International Scouting Tommy Tanous says the Mets were surprised that Kevin Parada fell to them with the 11th pick:

"Power-hitting catchers are very hard to find. Power-hitting catchers with a great history of success in college are even harder to find." pic.twitter.com/vJoZVjO86L

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 18, 2022