Mets select Nimmo with 13th pick in MLB Draft

METS SELECT OUTFIELDER BRANDON NIMMO
FROM WYOMING’S CHEYENNE EAST HIGH SCHOOL
WITH 13th OVERALL PICK IN 2011 FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT

FLUSHING, N.Y., June 6, 2011 – The New York Mets today announced the selection of outfielder Brandon Nimmo from Cheyenne East High School (WY) with the 13th overall pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.

Nimmo, 18, who bats lefthanded and throws righthanded, plays American Legion ball for Post 6, since Wyoming has no high school baseball. In 22 games through June 5, Nimmo hit .569 (33-58) with 13 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 34 RBI and 14 stolen bases. The schedule for Post 6 runs through the American Legion World Series, August 12-16 in Shelby, NC.

The 6-3, 190-pound native of Cheyenne, WY won the MVP award at the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field last August, going 2-4 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored for the American Team. Baseball America ranked Nimmo has the second-best high school athlete in the draft, and the second-best pure high school hitter. The publication also said Nimmo has the second-best strike-zone judgement of all high school draft prospects.

Nimmo is the first ever first-round selection from Wyoming.

Last season for Post 6, Nimmo hit .448 (95-212) with 23 doubles, six triples, 15 home runs and 84 RBI in 70 games, 69 starts. He was a perfect 34-34 in stolen base attempts, helping Post 6 to a 64-12 record.

Nimmo, who committed to the University of Arkansas, is the third position player taken in the first round by the Mets since 2008. He joins 1B Ike Davis and INF Reese Havens in 2008.