Mets’ Development Focused on Young Talent
For the Mets, 2025 is shaping up to be a significant year, primarily due to their youthful prospects.
With Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, and Nolan McLean set to pitch over the next three days, the team is in the middle of an intense pennant race.
Andy Greene, the vice president of player development, has found watching this summer’s TrioBlossom to be quite rewarding. Yet, his true joy comes from observing the performance of all three major league clubs.
“You celebrate the kids,” Greene remarked at Citifield on Wednesday, right before the Mets faced a 7-4 defeat against the Padres. “You appreciate the effort they’ve put in, especially since it can be easy to forget how much hard work goes into reaching this level.”
Jonah Tong, who struggled in his last outing for the Rangers by allowing six runs and not making it through the first inning, is gearing up to start against the Padres on Thursday.
For McLean, who has posted a stellar 1.19 ERA in his initial six starts, there are high expectations. He was a two-way player when drafted in 2023 from Oklahoma, but he has dedicated himself solely to pitching since last season, setting aside his infielder’s gloves and bat. The results have been impressive.
“He arrived quickly because he focused on improving,” Greene noted. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about his capabilities as a player. But dedicating all his efforts to pitching has certainly accelerated his progress. It isn’t easy to become elite on the mound.”
Sproat represents one of the three promising rookie pitchers who have made a noticeable impact on the Mets this season.
Greene’s seen resilience in young players before and is optimistic that these experiences can foster growth. He recalled that last season, he didn’t make it through his first innings in Single A.
“But he bounced back and had a fantastic year that led him here,” Greene said. “What you want to see in younger players is their ability to handle tough moments. They need to learn that they can rely on their resilience, so they can return to the mound with confidence.”
