Isaiah Greene Draws Rave Reviews

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After using their first pick in the 2020 draft to select a high school center fielder, the Mets were undeterred when another player with similar skills was available in the supplemental second round.

And so the club selected 19-year-old outfielder Isaiah Greene from Corona (Calif.) High with the 69th overall pick after using its first-rounder on Pete Crow-Armstrong.

“Bill Parcells once said, ‘I like linebackers, I collect them, you can’t have too many good ones,’ ” said Mets scouting director Marc Tramuta, referring to the Hall of Fame NFL coach. “For me you can’t have too many premium position players, center fielders and shortstops, and we did feel their tool sets and overall games were somewhat similar.”

Greene, who is 6-foot-1, 180 pounds and bats lefthanded, was obtained with the pick the Mets received when free agent Zack Wheeler signed with the Phillies. The Mets had eight reports on Greene, whose stock had risen last summer at the Area Codes Games.

Greene’s raw athleticism was appealing to the organization, which graded him as a 60 to 65 runner on the 20-80 scale.

“He can run and it will be an asset for him,” Tramuta said. “We believe that is certainly one of his plus assets, but not the only one. I think he can touch plus in multiple parts of his game.”

Greene’s demeanor and work ethic also appealed to Tramuta.

“He’s a quiet young man, but has strong confidence,” Tramuta said. “Very hard worker, he will get after it with his workouts.”

Tramuta noted that Greene has a cage at his home and his father throws batting practice to him.

“I don’t have any concerns with his makeup,” Tramuta said. “I think it will be a strength.”

 

NEW YORK MINUTES

— Shortstop Andres Gimenez was a long shot in summer camp to stick on the major league roster, but the 21-year-old infielder has received significant playing time at shortstop, third base and second base.  

— The Mets added top prospects Ronny Mauricio, Matt Allan, Brett Baty, Francisco Alvarez and Mark Vientos to their 60-man player pool. All were working out at the team’s alternate training site in Brooklyn.