STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State senior outfielder Jake Mangum has been selected by the New York Mets with the No. 118 overall pick in the 2019 first-year player draft Tuesday afternoon.
The fourth-round pick upped his draft position from a year ago when the Mets selected Mangum in the 32nd round of the MLB Draft. He forewent the opportunity to turn professional and came back for another year of college baseball. The selection has a slot value of $487,900.
Though he won’t wow you with power, the Pearl, Mississippi native has been one of the most consistent players in his college baseball career. Mangum became the Southeastern Conference career hits leader this year when he hit No. 353 against the Georgia Bulldogs on April 27. He currently has 375 career hits and counting. His 97 hits in the regular season this year was ranked No. 2 nationally. He also became the only player in MSU baseball history to record back-to-back 100-hit seasons when he recorded three hits against Miami in the Starkville Regional final on Sunday.
The Mets are getting a legitimate prospect who posses great contact skills, above-average base-running skills and tremendous fielding skills in center field.
One thing is for sure, the Mets drafted a guy who will give his all every single day on the diamond.