The New York Mets announced on Tuesday that they had chosen Arkansas right‑hander Carson Wiggins with the 27th overall pick in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft, a slot that carries a projected signing bonus of $3.47 million.
Wiggins’ college career was abruptly halted last May when he underwent Tommy John surgery, a procedure that kept him off the mound for his sophomore season and left the Razorbacks without one of their most electrifying arms.
During his freshman year he flashed a fastball that touched 102 mph and routinely sat in the high‑90s, complementing it with a sharp, wipeout slider that generated swings and misses at a high rate.
He posted a 3.21 ERA across 14 innings, striking out 20 batters while walking only nine and never surrendering a home run, numbers that hinted at a high‑upside arm despite limited experience.
Arkansas’ Strategy and Outlook
The Razorbacks had been hoping Wiggins would elect to remain in Fayetteville for a redshirt sophomore season, believing an additional year could push him into the top‑10 conversation, but the draft’s timing forced a decision.
If he signs, the Mets will be banking on his electric fastball and slider to accelerate his development, while the organization will look to integrate him into a pitching pipeline that has produced several recent major‑league contributors.
The coming weeks will reveal whether the pitcher chooses to embark on his professional journey or returns to college, a choice that could reshape both his personal trajectory and Arkansas’ rotation plans.