JUPITER, Fla. — Christian Scott’s first stay in major league spring camp ended two weeks ago when he was reassigned, but Wednesday he received a treat.
Borrowed from the minors to fill a gap in the Mets’ rotation, the organization’s top pitching prospect got to start a Grapefruit League game just 45 minutes from his roots in Coconut Creek, Fla.
Scott delivered admirably in the Mets’ 6-3 victory over the Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
The right-hander allowed one earned run on two hits over four innings with seven strikeouts and no walks, in front of about 30 friends and family members.
“I came to a lot of these games [in Jupiter] as a kid, so it’s nice to go out there and compete and trust my stuff and throw strikes,” Scott said.
Jonah Bride’s third-inning homer served as the only scoring against the 24-year-old Scott, who had a relief appearance for the Mets early in camp.
Scott spent most of last season at Double-A Binghamton, where he posted a 2.47 ERA in 12 starts.
He recorded 77 strikeouts in 62 innings for Binghamton.
Wednesday he topped out at 96.5 mph with his four-seam fastball — a pitch he utilized 34 times in producing seven swings-and-misses. Scott averaged 95.5 mph with the four-seamer.
“He’s special,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “His fastball is low release, with ride and velo, it plays up — and we saw it today with the way he was attacking hitters. They were having a hard time picking it up. You hear a lot about this kid, but watching him go about it today and the way he threw the baseball, it was special and it was exciting.”
Scott headlines a crop of young pitching that also includes Mike Vasil, Dom Hamel, Blade Tidwell and Brandon Sproat, some of whom could be possibilities to pitch for the Mets this season if needed.
A fifth-round pick by the Mets in the 2021 draft, Scott said he began his professional career trusting his slider the most, but now considers it as only his fourth-best pitch as he’s developed other weapons.
“Just elevating my repertoire to the best of my ability, instead of throwing two-seams, having four-seams and really having a split-change to rely on,” he said. “I feel like I have always been able to attack the zone at a high level, but now having multiple pitches gives me an extra step up for sure, my heater up in the zone.”
Edwin Diaz walked two batters in the fifth inning and was removed with two outs at 21 pitches.
The Mets closer wanted to remain in the game but was reminded by Mendoza that he is scheduled to throw in a minor league game Thursday, giving him back-to-back appearances for the first time this spring.
“Everything is going good, my body feels strong,” Diaz said. “I think I am back in a routine.”
Diaz, who missed last season after undergoing surgery in March to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, hasn’t pitched on back-to-back days since 2022.
