Port St. Lucy – Christian Scott is just as visible as anyone in the Mets clubhouse this spring, but it's like a miracle.
Six months after Tommy John's rehabilitation after surgery, the right-hander began throwing every other day from last week. His season will consist of a spring training complex and further rehabilitation in New York, and we hope to crack the 2026 rotation as his focus.
It could be a crowded scene. The Mets are seeing an increasing wave of young pitching, including names such as Brandon Sproto, Blade Tidwell, Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong. Such a proposition excites 25-year-old Scott knowing he has to acquire his place.
“I think a lot of us are just competitors,” Scott said. “We're going out there and trying to win the game as much as possible, so we do an amazing job of bouncing ideas back on each other.
“We talked about it earlier this season, we talked about it with each other, we're all pulling the same rope, are you right? We're all competing with each other. We're all trying to win the World Series in New York.
Scott caught the team's attention last year during his spring training.
The Mets smashed camp without him, but in a rotation that needed a shock in May, he was recalled from Triple A Syracuse, captivated with his major league debut, earning a run that exceeded 6²/₃ innings against the Rays.
His first stint with the Mets continued to have five starts, where he pitched for a 3.90 ERA. However, he returned to Syracuse on May 31 as the club needs a post-return roster of David Peterson.
Scott received four additional starts in July, but began to feel uncomfortable in his elbow. Tears were detected in the ulnar collateral ligament last year, but Scott was able to market it for the majority.
When rehabilitation failed to work following the discomfort of last season, he chose to have surgery.
The waves of young pitching to which Scott belongs are primarily scenes familiar to him. He was a Sproto teammate at the University of Florida. He competed with former Tennessee standout Tidwell in the SEC. And I got to know about 21-year-old Tong through a sharing agent.
The Gators' rotation consisted of Tommy Mace (Guardian), Jack Leftwich (Guardians), and Hunter Barco (Pirates).
“Me and Sprout were looking outside when we were there,” Scott said. “We were in the bullpen. We learned a bit about our bodies there. Where could we take it. Your body is ready to start, but your body is ready to ease too. I've learned both aspects of those.”
Arrived at the Mets in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, Scott was shuffling between the beginning and relief. His breakout came in 2023 as a full-time starter. He pitched to 2.57 ERA on three levels.
What was Scott's biggest point from his rookie season?
“Don't make the price too high,” he said. “Don't lower it too low. It's a long season. Be very consistent with your days.”
He continues to absorb everything he can from the veteran starting pitcher at camp, and continues to become a spectator for teams expected to compete for the World Series, spending what remains in spring training.
“I can't be there, but I'll be the best teammate I can,” Scott said. “I try to choose people's brains. If they need to bounce back ideas for me, whatever it takes to help us win the game this year.
