ANAHEIM, Calif. — Brandon Sproat has earned himself one promotion to the major leagues thanks to his recent dominating pitching performances.
The star right-hander was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, a day after striking out 13 batters for Double-A Binghamton.
Sproat began the season with High-A Brooklyn and appeared in 17 games, posting a 2.05 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings.
Sproat recorded 11 consecutive strikeouts in Friday’s win over New Hampshire.
The MLB record is 10 consecutive strikeouts.
Sproat recorded just two outs in five innings that weren’t strikeouts.
The 23-year-old Sproat, who throws a 100 mph fastball, has clearly caught the Mets’ attention as a potential late-season promotion.
“We’re being very careful, especially after a game like last night,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said before the team’s game against the Angels. “It’s good for our guys to continue to grow and improve, and we’re going to need them a lot, for sure, so we’re continuing to be very careful.”
Mendoza declined to say whether there had been any discussions about bringing Sproat directly to the Mets.
“We just want him to continue to grow,” Mendoza said. “Hopefully he continues to be in the conversation.”
The Mets have waived Jake Diekman.
The left-handed relief pitcher was designated a designated player by the team earlier this week.
Pete Alonso entered Saturday’s game having hit three home runs in his previous five games.
There was a period when Alonso hit only three home runs in a three-week span.
Alonso’s recent form has him back on top of the team with 23 home runs, one behind Francisco Lindor.
“I’ve been feeling good about my hitting for a while now,” Alonso said. “The balls, the liners are starting to go over the fence, so I’m just trying to hit the liners and happy accidents are happening.”
Reid Garrett was scheduled to pitch Saturday at Double-A Binghamton in his first minor league rehab start since going on the disabled list last month with swelling in his right elbow, but the game was rained out.
Mendoza cited Jose Butt’s recent pitching style in his decision to limit the right-hander to two innings of relief work on Friday, rather than allowing him to try for a second consecutive three-inning save.
Bhutto had bowled 44 and 40 balls in his previous two outings but this time he threw just 27 balls.
The Mets signed Butt to a contract extension with the expectation that he could be used in the starting rotation.
