Nimmo's contract a sign of new philosophy
Brandon Nimmo, the Mets' first-round draft pick, signed his contract shortly before Monday's midnight deadline. Credit: Traer Van Allen/NY Mets
SAN DIEGO -- So what does an 18-year-old do with a check for $2.1 million? The answer may surprise you.
"Ten percent is going to my church," said Brandon Nimmo, the Mets' first-round draft pick, who signed shortly before Monday's midnight deadline. "I'm going to do good things in my community. The other part of it, they're going to take however much for taxes, and the rest is going in the bank. I'm going to act like I never had it."
The Mets selected Nimmo as the 13th overall pick for his ability to hit, which he apparently does quite well. But it sounds as if they also put a check next to the box marked character.
Nimmo, introduced during a conference call Tuesday, was working out at the minor-league facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla., in the hope of starting with the Gulf Coast League (Rookie) Mets by end of this week.
"This is my dream -- playing baseball for a living," Nimmo said. "This is what I've dreamed about since I was a kid. I can't wait. It's going to be amazing."
The Mets spent liberally to sign Nimmo -- the recommended slot was $1.65 million -- and Paul DePodesta, the vice president of player development and scouting, added that he went above slot for a "handful" of the first 19 picks they signed.
That's a departure from strategy in past years, when the Mets were notoriously stingy with bonuses for draft picks, and DePodesta said there is a renewed emphasis on this philosophy in rebuilding the franchise.
"I don't know if it's a shift away from a focus on the major-league club," DePodesta said. "But a genuine interest in building from within in addition to what we do on the major league side. I talked to Jeff [Wilpon] yesterday and he wanted to sign them all. We're absolutely determined to build a foundation of this organization. I think I speak for the entire scouting staff in saying this year was a big step."
