​The Mets moved to strengthen their pitching depth with their lone selection in the opening two rounds of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, choosing University of Arkansas right-hander Carson Wiggins with the 27th overall pick. He was the seventh pitcher taken in a first round that was dominated by position players. This pick represents a high-upside gamble for New York, as the 6-foot-5, 215-pound 21-year-old logged just 14 innings for Arkansas as a freshman in 2025. Wiggins underwent internal brace surgery on his right elbow midway through that first season and ended up missing all of the 2026 campaign. Here’s what to know about Wiggins, the Mets’ first-round choice.
Wiggins is expected to bring a powerful arm to the Mets’ system, featuring a fastball that reached 102 mph on the radar gun as a freshman for the Razorbacks. His heater averaged 98.7 mph with late hop and carry, a combination MLB Pipeline grades at an 80, the highest possible score. He complements that velocity with a high-80s slider that serves as his primary chase pitch. The Oklahoma native limited opponents to a .152 batting average and struck out 20 while saving three games in 14 innings during Arkansas’ 2025 season.
Although Wiggins flashed potential as an ace-type starter for Arkansas heading into the 2027 season, the Mets selected him with the intent of persuading him to switch teams. MLB projections note that the Mets’ first-round pick slid 10 spots after the team surpassed the second surcharge threshold of the competitive-balance tax, and the selection is valued at roughly $3.47 million. There is a possibility that Wiggins could come at a slight discount due to his health history.
MLB.com had Wiggins ranked as the 88th-best prospect in the draft, underscoring the long-term upside the Mets are banking on. There are some interesting parallels between Wiggins and his older brother, Jaxon. Jaxon Wiggins also pitched at Arkansas for two seasons before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing his third season. He was drafted by the Cubs with a supplemental pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and has since developed into one of Chicago’s top prospects. The 24-year-old Jaxon sits as MLB Pipeline’s No. 90 prospect in baseball and the Cubs’ third-ranked prospect. He has made seven starts across three minor league levels this season, including three starts at Triple-A Iowa, where he carries a 6.75 ERA in three outings.
This report first appeared on NorthJersey.com, highlighting three key takeaways about Mets’ first-round pick Carson Wiggins for SEO purposes.