Brandon Sproto’s Strong Mets Debut
Brandon Sproto made quite an impression in his debut at Citi Field, helping to somewhat revitalize the struggling Mets.
Honestly, the Mets have had their ups and downs this season.
In his first home start, the rookie right-handed pitcher delivered six scoreless innings. However, the bullpen’s inability to hold the lead led to a frustrating 3-2 loss against the Rangers—a continuation of the Mets’ eight-game losing streak.
Just a day after fellow rookie Jonaton allowed six runs in the first inning, the 24-year-old Sproto managed to keep the Rangers to just six hits over six frames, which isn’t too shabby… at all. Notably, he didn’t walk anyone, mainly pitched to contact, and secured three strikeouts while using just 70 pitches.
Carlos Mendoza, the Mets’ manager, decided to pull Sproto in the seventh after he noticed a decline in his pitch speed and observed some hard contact from the Rangers in the prior inning.
“Despite having thrown only 70 pitches, we noted a significant drop in velocity,” Mendoza said, adding that the hard hit balls were concerning. “I checked in with him, and while he claimed to be fine, I felt it was best to go to the bullpen.” There’s always that fine line—balancing a pitcher’s desire to stay in the game against the need for caution.
When asked about any health concerns regarding Sproto, Mendoza reassured everyone, emphasizing he had no worries at all.
Sproto, on his part, maintained that he felt good, saying, “My goal is to pitch as much as possible. I want to compete until they take the ball from me.” That’s the spirit, right? Though he respected the manager’s decision, it’s hard not to sense that competitor’s itch.
Unfortunately, the Mets couldn’t capitalize on Sproto’s solid performance. Relief pitchers Tyler Rogers and Edwin Diaz surrendered three runs in the eighth and ninth innings, denying Sproto his first big league win.
It’s worth noting that despite the loss, Sproto showcased his potential in this outing, having previously lost in his debut with the Reds just last Sunday, where he allowed three runs over six innings. This time, he threw a strong six scoreless frames, lowering his ERA to 2.25. He’s scheduled to start in the series finale against rookie Nolan McLean, who boasts a 4-1 record and a 1.42 ERA.
“Sproat was impressive,” Mendoza remarked. “His sinker was effective, and he consistently generated ground balls. He used a variety of pitches, kept his strikes, and forced weak contact. Overall, I think he performed solidly.” It sounds like the team is hopeful for what he can deliver next.
