Third Wave of Mets Youth Pitching Movement
The Mets are seeing another surge in their young pitching roster.
Brandon Sproat, one of their top prospects, is set to pitch in the series finale against the Reds on Sunday, as confirmed by the Post.
He joins fellow rookies Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong in the rotation, coming off an impressive call-up with the Mets winning all five games he’s been involved in.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza noted that Sproat had shared his readiness with the team recently.
At just 24, Sproat has a record of 8-6 and a 4.24 ERA over 121 innings at Triple A Syracuse this season, striking out 113 hitters in 25 starts.
“We’re keeping an eye on these guys,” Mendoza mentioned. “It’s encouraging to see them show confidence, and Sproat really emphasized that message to us. It was like he was saying, ‘I can step up, too.'”
Bringing Sproat into the fold continues the Mets’ approach of leaning on their promising talent when veteran players are underperforming.
The club is exploring minor league options for Kodai Senga, and Sean Manaea has struggled since his return from injury. Additionally, Clay Holmes has been inconsistent, and David Peterson hasn’t been as effective lately.
McLean has shined with a 4-0 record and a 1.37 ERA in his first four starts.
Tong made his second start against the Reds, after securing a win in his debut against the Marlins last Friday.
As the second overall pick in 2023, Sproat is looking to mirror the success of his teammates.
He had a solid 3.83 ERA in the minors and has experienced the inevitable ups and downs while competing in the team’s top affiliate.
The Mets seem to be positioning McLean for an important four-game series against the Phillies starting next Monday by allowing Sproat to get the start on Sunday.
Reports have indicated the Mets preferred to have McLean pitch this Sunday with regular rest, rather than relying on Senga.
Currently, the Mets hold a narrow lead over the Giants for the final wild-card spot, while trailing the Phillies by 5.5 games in the NL East.
