Mitch Voit, Mets' top draft pick, gets first taste of big Citi
Mets draft pick Mitch Voit is seen on the Jumbotron during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field on Friday Credit: Newsday/Ben Dickson
On Sunday, the Mets used their first pick in the MLB Draft, the No. 38 overall selection, on Mitch Voit.
On Thursday, the former University of Michigan star officially became part of the franchise’s plans after signing his contract.
And on Friday at Citi Field, the 20-year-old earned his first taste of what being a Met is all about.
Voit donned a Mets jersey with his name and the No. 25, spent time in the clubhouse and took batting practice before the team’s series opener against the Reds.
“Both are incredible,” Voit said of how Friday compared with being drafted. “I’ve just been filled with excitement since Sunday night.”
Voit, who primarily played second base this past spring as a junior at Michigan, also pitched as a freshman and sophomore. He did not pitch this past season after an elbow injury that required internal brace surgery.
The MLB transaction log listed Voit as a two-way player, but the Mets announced him as an infielder in a release Thursday. Voit, who also played third base, first base, rightfield and leftfield at Michigan, confirmed that will be the case.
“Our plan will be to develop me as a position player,” Voit said. “But I’ve said this before, if it comes down to it and the only opportunity is to be a pitcher in the big leagues for the New York Mets, yeah. But our plan will be as a position player.”
As far as next steps, Voit said he will head to Port St. Lucie to “take a deep dive into everything.” He still does not know exactly what that entails, including whether he will play in minor-league games this year.
Voit slashed .346/.471/.668 with 14 home runs, 17 doubles, four triples and 60 RBIs in 56 games for Michigan this past season. The righthanded hitter also had 14 homers in 59 games in 2024 and batted .292.
He signed for a reported $1.75 million, well below the $2,569,400 slot value for the 38th pick. His first purchase was an easy choice.
“Obviously, I’ve gotten that question a lot,” Voit said. “But before anything happened, I always knew on this day I would get my mom a Chanel purse, and so I’d given that to her on draft night. And I’m just so thankful for everything my mom and dad did. And that was just, I guess, my first way of giving back.”
He added: “She cried. It was so awesome, though.”
The most memorable moment for Voit on Friday involved the Mets’ $765 million man.
“I was in the cages, and I got to see the beginning of [Juan] Soto’s routine,” Voit said. “And [it was] very surgical, you could say.”
Voit has a long way to go before making his dream come true at the MLB level, but he took the first steps in doing so this week.
“Today, we were able to add a dynamic player to the organization as we continue to build our farm system,” Kris Gross, the Mets’ vice president for amateur scouting, said in a release Thursday. “I want to congratulate Mitch and his family on this momentous occasion. They have put a lot of hard work and sacrifice into getting to this point. Mitch has shown the ability to play at a high level at several positions and make an impact at the plate. He has great makeup and a tremendous amount of potential.”
Notes & quotes: In their first game after the All-Star break, the Mets added a bullpen reinforcement with the return of lefthander Brooks Raley. Raley, 37, has not pitched since April 19, 2024, and had Tommy John surgery. He had a 2.48 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 61 2⁄3 innings with the Mets in the previous two seasons. “He feels like a trade deadline acquisition here,” manager Carlos Mendoza said . . . Jesse Winker (back inflammation) received an epidural Friday and is out for another seven to 10 days without baseball activities . . . Starling Marte (right knee bruise) is progressing and could be three to five days from a return . . . Jose Siri (left tibia fracture) is “still feeling better” but has not resumed baseball activities, Mendoza said.
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
