2017 Mets draft profile: Picks 36-40

We continue our player profiles from the Mets’ 2017 amateur draft with their picks from the 36th through the 40th round. You can check out all of our draft coverage here.

36: Robby Kidwell, C, Brunswick Community College

Robby Kidwell graduated from Chopticon High School in Maryland in 2015 and fulfilled his commitment to Brunswick Community College in North Carolina. In his first year there, he hit .298/.374/.509 in 42 games, slugging four home runs, walking 12 times, and striking out 29 times. This past season, Kidwell hit .325/.400/.530 in 43 games, slugging eight home runs, walking 21 times, and striking out 43 times. He was planning on transferring to University of North Carolina at Wilmington but put those plans on hold when he was drafted.

Kidwell stands square at the plate with a wide, spread stance, and uses a toe tap as his timing mechanism. His swing is more contact oriented than power oriented, with a level swing. He hits to all fields with line drive power.

Behind the plate, Kidwell is slightly tall for a catcher, but does everything well for someone his size. He has a quick transfer and release, and his throws are accurate.

37: Joshua Walker, LHP, University of New Haven

A local kid, Joshua Walker was born in Otisville, New York, roughly an hour-and-a-half from Citi Field. He grew up a Yankees fan, and went on to play baseball for Minisink Valley High School, where he wore #21 in honor of Paul O’Neill. In an odd twist of fate, the assistant principal of the school was Dave Telgheder, who was drafted by the Mets in the 31st round of the 1989 MLB Draft and spent a few years pitching for them and the Oakland Athletics.

In addition to being named team captain and MVP thanks to a senior season where he posted a 2.60 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 54 innings, he was named a First Team All-County and All-Section honoree. After graduating in 2013, he initially attended the University of South Florida where he struggled, posting a 13.50 ERA in seven relief appearances. He redshirted his sophomore season because of an injury, and at a friend’s urging, transferred to the University of New Haven to begin fresh. He struggled in his first year as a Charger, posting a 5.93 ERA in 13.2 innings, but had success in his senior season, posting a 2.40 ERA in 30.0 innings.

The tall left-hander uses a three-quarters arm slot. His fastball sits in the low 90s.

38: Daniel Alfonzo, 3B, Bayside High School

The son of former MLB All-Star, member of the ‘greatest infield ever,’ and current Brooklyn Cyclones manager Edgardo Alfonzo, Daniel Alfonzo is a chip off his father’s shoulders. Thanks to his father’s genes and the years of private coaching, Daniel Alfonzo had a decorated high school career and was head and shoulders better than his peers. He was named Bayside High School’s MVP in each of the last three seasons, he led the PSAL in home runs in his sophomore year, had 24 hits in 51 at-bats as a senior, and never ended a season with a batting average lower than .471.

At the plate, Alfonzo has a similar batting stance as his father—and why not, it worked for Fonzie. He stands low, using his short, squat frame to his advantage. He has a lot of power for a youngster, especially on pitches thrown in. A home run he hit during his sophomore year at Bayside High School forced the PSAL to change the rules high school players in New York abided by.

Like his father, Alfonzo is something of a jack-of-all-trades in the infield, playing first base, third base, and shortstop. Given his frame, the younger Alfonzo will probably not be able to stay at short, and is likely to be a corner infielder in the years to come.

Alfonzo has the physical tools and baseball pedigree to be selected much higher in the draft, making his commitment to Adelphi University very strong.

39: Noah Nunez, RHP, Santana High School

A two-way athlete, excelling on the gridiron and on the baseball diamond, Noah Nunez was named captain of the Santana High School baseball team, where he helped lead the Sultans to a Grossmont Hills League co-championship. Named the Pitcher of the Year there, he would ink a commitment to San Diego State

Nunez has a fastball that sits in the upper 80s and touches as high as 91 MPH. He is able to command the pitch well, especially to his glove side, and gets good life on the pitch. In addition, he throws a rudimentary breaking ball that he has shown a feel for. The pitch sits in the low-to-mid 70s with tight spin.

A former football player in addition to playing baseball, Nunez has a solid 6’4”, 210-pound athletic frame, which is highly sought in pitchers.

40: Ronnie Taylor, Jr., RHP, Allen High School

A Texas flamethrower, Ronnie Taylor injured his right elbow during his sophomore year and was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery. Recovery from the surgery took up the rest of his sophomore season and most of his junior year, but the big right-hander was back on the field in time for his senior year. He pitched well, and has a commitment to Wichita State University.

Taylor leans heavily on his fastball, a pitch that sits in the low 90s and can reach as high as 94 MPH. His general strategy throughout high school was to throw as hard as he could and hope that hitters would be unable to square up on the pitch, but he also developed a breaking ball just in case. His curveball sits in the low-to-mid 80s with 11-5 break.

At 6’3”, 220 pounds, Taylor has a solid pitching frame. He uses a high leg kick during his delivery, imparting deception in his pitches. He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, periodically throwing using a true over-the-top slot.