Since the institution of Major League Baseball's Rule 4 Draft, the Mets have selected 63 players in its first round.
The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, and the team that had the worst record receives the first pick.
[1] In addition, teams that lost free agents in the previous off-season may be awarded compensatory or supplementary picks.
[4] Outfielders Lee Mazzilli (1973) and Darryl Strawberry (1980), shortstop Wally Backman (1977), and pitcher Dwight Gooden (1982) played in the 1986 World Series for the Mets' second championship team.
[5] Three first-round draft picks have gone on to win the Rookie of the Year Award with the Mets: Jon Matlack in 1972, Strawberry in 1983, and Gooden in 1984.