For months, the buzz around Michigan infielder Mitch Voit focused as much on a single viral moment as on his draft potential. Back on March 16, the corner infielder of the University of Michigan hit a bases-clearing triple against USC. In the heat of the moment, he celebrated by pretending to snort the chalk third-base line. Four months later, the New York Mets used their top draft pick, No. 38 overall, to select Voit. And unexpectedly, that clip from Michigan went viral online, garnering more than 1.5 million views and stoking a firestorm of debate: How could a team invest its most valuable draft pick in a player with such recent and public controversy?

Voit himself took swift and total ownership of his actions. On March 17, the day after the incident, he posted a formal apology on his X account. Acknowledging that he had made an immature decision in the heat of the moment, Voit wrote, “I would like to apologize for my actions on third base yesterday.” He said the gesture didn’t really reflect who he is, the values he was brought up with, or what his block M stands for. Owning up to it fully, he added, “I take full responsibility for what I did, and I am truly sorry to all those who I have negatively impacted by doing this.” 

But what about the Mets? So, it appears the Mets consider the incident as water under the bridge. Mets vice-president of amateur scouting Kris Gross told the New York Post Sports that they asked Voit about the incident in the spring. Agreeing with Voit, the franchise, too, believed it was a heat-of-passion thing, and nothing else. They have no doubt the viral dust-up “isn’t a problem” for the organization to keep moving ahead with their top prospect.

Gross explained that the team’s thinking struck with clarity, framing the event as a youthful mistake. “He’s a young guy. It’s a heat of passion. It’s a big game. He made a big play for his team and made a mistake,” he stated. The key for the organization was how Voit responded afterward. Speaking on behalf of the clubhouse, Gross praised his accountability, noting, “And he’s made an apology for it, and owned up to it and handled it with class.”

But the Mets didn’t just address the incident with Gross. They went to multiple sources to ascertain that the incident does not reflect Voit’s “makeup” and values. Gross’s response, backed by their own investigation, sealed the decision. Moving forward, the Mets have confidence that Mitch is the right choice for the franchise.

It would seem the Mets are comfortable with that decision, though this acceptance is not always the norm in pro sports. Since leagues and teams have long punished players severely for on-field actions that cross the line, there is also their established record on punishment that can’t be avoided.

The evolution of the Mets’ judgment

In 2019, Amir Garrett of the Reds was handed an eight-game suspension for charging the Pirates’ dugout and igniting a fight. Two years later, he received an additional seven games for taunting an opponent. In a 2010 game, Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan was suspended eight games. His “crime spree” involved running into two catchers, sparking a brawl, and throwing a ball at a fan in the stands.

Discipline goes beyond performing a physical action. For instance, John Rocker, the Braves’ closer, is a perfect example of that. He was fined and made to undergo sensitivity training for his inflammatory remarks made in an interview. He also received a 14-game suspension.

The Mets organization is no stranger to laying down the law themselves. In one of the franchise’s most infamous incidents, outfielder Vince Coleman was suspended for the rest of the 1993 season. He threw a powerful firecracker into a crowd of fans, injuring three people. Team president Fred Wilpon vowed, “He’ll not play here again as a Met.” They released him after the season, proving their zero-tolerance stance on dangerous off-field behavior.

The team has also not hesitated more recently. Pitcher Yohan Ramírez was suspended for three games in 2024 for intentionally throwing at an opponent. Manager Carlos Mendoza was also suspended for one game. In 2010, closer Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez was taken into custody there for assault. The team suspended him and began the process of voiding his contract. And a once-prominent prospect, Jenrry Mejia, was banned from baseball for life after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs three times.

So, given that clear, past history of strict discipline, why was this time different? The answer is in a mixture of strategy, scouting, and necessity. The 2025 draft would see the Mets go into the event at a substantial disadvantage. Penalties for going over the luxury tax had bumped back their first pick ten spots to No. 38. They also surrendered their second-round pick to sign Juan Soto. That left them with a little bonus pool and only a single high-value pick. They couldn’t afford to miss, but they had to be creative as well.