PORT ST. LUCIE — The buzz throughout the Mets organization last summer revolved around Brandon Sproat’s dominance as he ascended from High-A Brooklyn to Double-A Binghamton and finally Triple-A Syracuse.
But it was during that last stop, after arriving in August, that Sproat encountered his first adversity.
The right-hander, who signed as a second-round pick from the University of Florida in the 2023 draft, got hit hard.
Included were seven homers allowed in 28 ²/₃ innings over seven starts for Syracuse and pitching to a 7.53 ERA. For Sproat, the “learning curve” had begun.
“It’s not surprising for me that I struggled a little bit at Triple-A,” Sproat said Thursday at Clover Park. “I kind of got away from who I am up there and that is attacking and not worrying about results. You learn from it and move on.
“Nerves kind of kicked in, a little bit of a bigger stage. It’s going to be a bigger stage in the big leagues, but after the year was done I looked back on what I need to work on and that’s having a better mindset going into it — a little bit of a better process.”
Sproat, 24, threw two innings of live batting practice on this day.
He will be among the most scrutinized prospects in camp after receiving recognition last season as the organization’s pitcher of the year.
MLB Pipeline has Sproat ranked as baseball’s No. 46 prospect heading into the season.
Jett Williams (No. 58) is the only other Mets player on the top-100 list.
A fastball that touches 100 mph is Sproat’s biggest asset.
Overall, he pitched to a 3.40 ERA with 131 strikeouts in 116 ¹/₃ innings last season.
Sproat’s signature performance of the season was for Binghamton in August — he struck out 11 straight batters to conclude one start.
Sproat’s promotion to Syracuse followed, along with adversity.
“I don’t want to say I was glad, but it was good to see he was hit around a bit because it kind of humbled him,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He kind of flew through the minors and it was easy for him. And, ‘OK, I got to a level where I have got to make adjustments.’ He’s in his second year and he’s already in big league camp.”
Mendoza said he’s spoken to Sproat about using his time in camp to learn from the other pitchers and remain “in the mix.” Barring injuries, Sproat isn’t expected to be an option for the major league rotation to begin the season.
“Most importantly just have fun with it,” Sproat said of this spring training. “Stay healthy and pick these guys’ brains about their daily routines. See what they do on a daily basis.”
Developing pitching sits near or at the top of the list of the Mets’ organizational goals.
Last season, the team promoted Christian Scott from Syracuse and watched the right-hander pitch to a 4.56 ERA in nine starts before he was shut down with elbow discomfort.
Scott underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss this season rehabbing.
Blade Tidwell and Dom Hamel are among the other pitchers not on the 40-man roster who are in camp. Tidwell pitched to a 5.93 ERA in 19 appearances for Syracuse last year.
Hamel, a former pitcher of the year within the organization, pitched to a 6.79 ERA in 27 starts for Syracuse.
Sproat said he doesn’t put too much stock in his prospect ranking and the fanfare surrounding him as a highly regarded young pitcher.
His look this spring includes a mustache he recently added.
“I have never been able to grow facial hair,” Sproat said. “Me and my buddies were like, ‘Let’s try it in the offseason.’ I guess it turned out pretty well.”
