Sproat looks forward to giving Mets a hand: 'I'll be ready'

This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo¡¯s Mets Beat newsletter. This edition of the newsletter was written by Mark Feinsand. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- For the second straight year, Brandon Sproat holds the No. 1 spot on MLB Pipeline¡¯s Top 30 Mets prospects list, and after showing his stuff in big league camp, the right-hander is hoping to contribute in the Majors this season.

The 24-year-old was reassigned to Minor League camp earlier in the week, but Sproat still made his scheduled start for the Mets on Thursday night, allowing two runs over two innings against the Astros.

¡°This is a guy that, stuff-wise, is right there with anybody,¡± manager Carlos Mendoza said. ¡°Now he's learning how to pitch, learning how to get through a lineup, not only once, but three times through an order, because hitters will adjust to it.

¡°The fact that he's going to be in Triple-A, we could see him making an impact to this team at some point.¡±

The hard-throwing Sproat continues to work on his new sinker, and while he called the pitch (and all of his pitches, for that matter) a ¡°work in progress,¡± the right-hander¡¯s mentality on the mound -- ¡°I just throw it as hard as I can. If they hit it, great; if not, awesome,¡± he said -- will have to continue to evolve.

¡°Be the controller and take ownership with what pitches I want to throw to whatever hitter it is, whatever count might be,¡± Sproat said. ¡°If I go out there and I take control, throw every pitch I had with conviction and I'm on the attack, then I can leave the field that day with my head held high with whatever might happen.¡±

Sproat dominated at High-A Brooklyn (1.07 ERA in 25 1/3 innings) and Double-A Binghamton (2.45 ERA in 62 1/3 innings) in 2024, but he got a harsh reality lesson at Triple-A Syracuse, where he posted a 7.53 ERA in 28 2/3 innings over seven starts.

¡°He went through it last year when he got to Triple-A and he struggled [against] better hitters,¡± Mendoza said. ¡°It¡¯s easy to go out there and blow 97 or 99 for three or four batters, but when you have to go through 18, 21 batters, hitters will adjust at this level. He's going to have to learn how to pitch and get through those lineups.¡±

To that end, Sproat spent much of his time in big league camp talking with veteran pitchers Sean Manaea and Clay Holmes, picking their brains about their prolonged success in the Majors.

¡°That¡¯s part of the messaging from Day 1,¡± Mendoza said. ¡°When I'm addressing the team, I'm encouraging the younger players to pick their brains and watch them; how they go about their business, how they prepare, and just have those conversations in games. What do you see? What are some of the adjustments?¡±

Sproat will continue to learn his craft in the Minors, but if the Mets call on him at some point this season, he¡¯s prepared to contribute in any way he can.

¡°I'm trying to continue to take it day by day,¡± Sproat said. ¡°Whenever the team and the Mets need me, I'll be ready.¡±