Mets’ Late Draft Pick Is Determined To Prove The Critiques Wrong

Mike Vasil, who was chosen by the Mets in the eighth round of the 2021 draft and was born in Boston, would be lying if he said he didn’t recognize a small amount of his “hero,” Tom Brady, in himself.

Mets’ Late Draft Pick Mike Vasil Is Determined To Prove Critiques Wrong

Brady was chosen in the latter stages of his draft class, namely the sixth round. He had a Hall of Fame career with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and holds the record for the most championship rings in NFL history with seven. He is regarded by many as the best NFL player in league history.

Vasil, a top Mets prospect and a Boston native, arrived to the All-Star Futures Game on Saturday wearing cleats with a pattern inspired by the Citi Field home run apple.

Vasil was selected 232nd overall in the eighth round of the draft, which makes Brady’s fixation with his selection as the 199th overall choice in the 2000 NFL Draft come to mind.

Before suffering an arm injury that reduced his value, Vasil may have been selected in the first round out of high school.

He ultimately chose to compete at Virginia and lost in the eighth round in 2021.

The Amazins and their supporters will be ecstatic if Vasil turns out to be anything like Brady for the Mets. But that’s a long way off. Vasil is currently pitching at the Futures Game alongside the best and brightest talents of the future, which is a feat in and of itself for an eighth-round draft selection.

“You see things about like, ‘Oh, could have been this.’ ‘Could have been that out of high school,’ ” Vasil, who was the Mets’ lone representative at the Futures Game, said before he faced two batters — walking one and striking out one — in the National League’s 5-0 win. “But for me, I would just say I’m an eighth-round pick, just here, Futures Game, moving my way through the system.”

On Saturday, he walked Spencer Jones of the Yankees before getting Kyren Paris of the Angels to strike out after three pitches.

“I love to win,” Vasil said. “One thing about me is whether it’s six innings, four runs, and that’s what the job calls for or seven innings, shutout. You gotta do your job.”

His nature also makes him recall perceived slights.

https://twitter.com/genymets/status/1676260613574520832?s=20

“I am who I am,” Vasil said. “I identify as the eighth-round pick in the ’21 draft class. I’m just working hard to not necessarily prove it to others, but prove it to myself that I know how good I can be and ultimately try to get to Citi Field and pitch in the big leagues.

 

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