PETERSBURG, Fla. — Christian Scott’s rise has been a boon to the Mets’ coaching staff, which allowed the right-hander to add a changeup to his arsenal last year before going with a sweeper this season. .
It was a joie de vivre for Scott, who rose from being a relief pitcher at the University of Florida to becoming the organization’s top starting pitching prospect.
“It means a lot,” Scott said Friday from Tropicana Field, where he will make his major league debut on Saturday. “I’ve worked hard for this opportunity. I’m really grateful to be here. I’m going to come out and show my stuff and show what I’ve got.”
And it was fun to watch Thomas Nido, who had taken note of Scott’s presence and ability as soon as he was selected in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, do so.
Nido and Scott share a high school coach. Alan Kunkel coaches catchers at Orangewood Christian School in Maitland, Fla., pitchers at Calvary Christian in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Mark Vientos coaches the Elite Squad, a travel team in Florida. did. .
“I knew [Scott] From day one,” Nido said before the Mets opened their series against the Rays. “I was told to take care of him and stuff. And the funny thing is, here he is.”
This could also be a big part of the future of the Mets’ rotation.
Scott is 24 years old and has been mostly in the bullpen as a Gator due to his limited weapons.
He deepened and honed his repertoire, emerging as a control specialist (he walked just 1.2 per nine innings in his breakout minor league season last year), and is a high-octane player who had 36 strikeouts in 25¹/₃ innings with a triple. He distinguished himself as both of Tan’s arms. This year it’s Syracuse.
The prospect who made enough noise to force his debut in the major leagues with no corresponding injuries (struggling Adrian Hauser will be removed from the rotation, at least temporarily) is quiet and polite.
But like many players on the mound, he transforms into a different person. That was clear to Kunkel on March 16, 2018.
“I think we were No. 1 or No. 2 in the country at that point,” Kunkel said when Scott took the mound against the powerhouse American Heritage, a team filled with future pros. , I saw them completely dominate while allowing just one hit. Including Red Sox standout Triston Casas.
“His mindset is really going to inform what’s going to happen,” Kunkel, now the associate head coach of the South Florida baseball team, said by phone. “He didn’t care. He didn’t think you could hit it.”
Armed with a fastball that was in the low 90s at the time and a relentless competitive attitude, Kunkel said, “Kids will race you to the watering hole just to say they won.” Scott is a Creek native who pitched for three years at Florida, Coconut’s dream school.
The Mets sensed something in the college reliever, who returned to the starting lineup after the 2021 draft and began reinventing his repertoire.
After an unfortunate 2022 season in which he pitched to a 4.45 ERA in Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn, Scott developed a diving changeup that helped him become the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season. .
Sweepers were added this offseason, which Scott said was “huge,” especially against right-handed hitters.
“This is a big thing for the organization,” coach Carlos Mendoza said. “Not just for Christian Scott, but for the scouting group and player development. There’s a lot of people who give him a lot of help.”
He’s had a lot of help with the Mets and even before the Mets.
Scott estimated about 50 family members and friends would be at Saturday’s game, which is just a few hours away from where he grew up.
Scott said his father has been accommodating ticket requests and has been “awesome.”
He’s guaranteed a debut, but there’s not much beyond that.
He will likely still be in the rotation for next week’s game when the Mets host the Braves, but nothing is promised.
“Go play on Saturday and try to win a ballgame,” Scott said. “That’s all I got.”
The Mets will be concerned about Scott’s innings total, as he logged just 87/₃ innings last season. There are always hurdles in his transition to the majors, so his performance is also a concern. Scott has at least one game left to start asserting himself.
His high school coach said he has no concerns about how Scott will handle the spotlight.
“I think his competitive spirit and ability to remain calm under pressure are the traits that have made him the person he is today,” Kunkel said.
