The New York Mets are banking on Juan Soto’s bat to anchor their outfield for the next decade, but they know one superstar won’t deliver that elusive championship by himself.
That’s where David Stearns comes in.
The Mets’ front office has shown they’re not just throwing money around – they’re being strategic about it. Stearns has built winners in smaller markets before, and now he’s got the financial firepower to match his talent evaluation skills.
With the MLB draft coming up, Baseball America thinks the Mets could find a steal with the 38th overall pick. They’re projecting New York to land Mason Neville, an outfielder from the University of Oregon who’s having a breakout junior season.
“Neville has had a tremendous junior season with Oregon and is leading all D-I hitters with 25 home runs. He entered the spring with real questions about his swing decisions but has made strides in that department with a career-best strikeout rate to go with solid speed and a lefthanded-hitting center field profile.”
The numbers back up the hype. Neville’s slashing .290 with a 1.152 OPS this season, launching 26 home runs and 16 doubles while drawing 53 walks. He’s done that damage in the tough Big Ten Conference after Oregon made the move from the Pac-12, where he also impressed in 2024.
The 21-year-old from Henderson, Nevada represents exactly the type of bat the Mets need to keep adding to their system.
Here’s the thing – Stearns knows he’ll need to package prospects in trades over the next few years to fill holes and make runs at October. That means they can’t afford to let their farm system go dry.
Neville’s profile as a left-handed hitting center fielder with pop and speed checks a lot of boxes. His improved plate discipline this season suggests he’s figured out the swing decisions that were holding him back earlier in his college career.
The Mets are in a unique position right now. They’ve got the financial resources to compete at the top of the market while also having a front office executive who’s proven he can identify and develop talent. Hitting on picks like Neville would give them the flexibility to stay aggressive when the right trade opportunities present themselves.
