Mets Take Mississippi State Righty J.T. Ginn with the 52nd Pick in the 2020 MLB Draft

With the 52nd overall pick in the second round of the 2020 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the New York Mets selected right-handed pitcher J.T. Ginn out of Mississippi State.

The thing is, Ginn underwent Tommy John Surgery in March and is not expected to pitch until at least the spring.

But scouts love Ginn’s stuff, as he throws hard, possesses a filthy slider, and has developed a plus-changeup.

Ginn had an opportunity to turn professional when the Los Angeles Dodgers plucked him with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft out of Brandon High School two years ago. But he chose to pursue his dream of playing for the Mississippi State Bulldogs instead.

The 6-foot-two, 200-pound flamethrower spun an 8-4 record with a 3.13 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 85.1 innings as a freshman for Mississippi State, earning him National Freshman of the Year honors from Perfect Game. 

With the advancements in the Tommy John procedure, Ginn could conceivably return to form, or even better, after the surgery.

But only time will tell. 

— Jerry Del Priore