Carson Wiggins is headed to the New York Mets after they chose the Arkansas right-hander with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday, July 11. The first-round selection puts one of Arkansas' most electric arms into pro baseball conversation and leaves open the question of whether he will sign or go back to Fayetteville.
The pick carries a projected slot value of $3.47 million, a figure that helps explain why the decision now belongs as much to Wiggins as it does to the Mets. He had just finished a sophomore season in which he did not throw a pitch, and Arkansas had hoped he would avoid the draft and return for a redshirt sophomore season in 2027.
Wiggins' arm is the reason he was still on a first-round board despite the lost season. As a freshman, he went 1-1 with three saves and a 3.21 ERA across 14 innings, striking out 20 and walking nine while not allowing a home run. His fastball touched 102 mph and sits around 98 mph, and he pairs it with a wipeout slider.
That ceiling is also the reason Arkansas wanted another year. The Razorbacks had envisioned Wiggins as their Friday night starter despite his minimal SEC experience, and the program believes he could grow into a top-10 pick with more time in Arkansas. But the profile still has a hole: he needs a reliable third pitch, and he still has to show he can command everything he throws.
Wiggins had Tommy John surgery in May 2025 and was declared 100% healthy earlier this spring, but his doctor did not let him return in the latter stages of the 2026 season. He turned 21 earlier this summer, a reminder that he is already old enough to weigh the tradeoff between a major league payday now and another season that could raise his value later. Whether Carson Wiggins signs with the Mets or returns to Arkansas is the decision that will determine which side gets the last word.
