Sproat, a second-round pick out of the University of Florida in 2023, is a talented right-hander who spent a brief period as the Mets’ top-ranked prospect. He entered the year rated No. 46 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list following an impressive first professional season that saw him dominate High-A (1.07 ERA) and Double-A (2.45 ERA) before running into a wall in his first taste of Triple-A (7.53 ERA in seven starts).
Sproat still rates fifth in the Mets’ system despite an uneven encore to that season this year.
He also features some of the best pure stuff on the farm, with a fastball that sits in the high 90s and occasionally hits triple digits, as well as an upper-80s changeup — a pitch he leaned on more to overcome his early 2025 struggles. In addition, Sproat boasts an upper-90s sinker, a mid-80s sweeper, an 89-91 mph slider and an 80-82 mph curveball.
“This is a guy that, stuff-wise, is right there with anybody,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said during Spring Training. “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.”
Although Sproat did continue to struggle at the beginning of this season, producing a 6.02 ERA through May 31, he responded with a dominant run of six starts from June 28 through the end of July, going undefeated with a 0.55 ERA in those outings. Sproat has not been as consistent since that time, but he’s also been better than he was from April through May.
“Success to me is, ‘OK, at the end of the day, did I throw every ball as hard as I can with conviction?’” Sproat said last month at Syracuse. “And if I did, then whether I win or lose, that’s success in my eyes. That’s what gives me the best chance to go out there and compete and win.”
If nothing else, Sproat gives the Mets an option beyond their litany of starting pitchers who have struggled in the second half of the season. Atop that list is Kodai Senga, who was lined up to pitch Sunday but will no longer be making that start. Mets officials have reportedly discussed asking Senga to accept an optional assignment to the Minors, given that he’s posted a 5.90 ERA since returning from the injured list on July 11. The team has lost four of his last five starts.
By contrast, the Mets are a perfect 5-0 in games started by McLean and Tong, two other Top 5 prospects from their system who have given the rotation a jolt in recent weeks. McLean has already established himself as the nominal ace of this staff, despite only having made four big league appearances. If Tong and Sproat can even approach similar levels of success, the Mets’ rotation could look vastly different by the start of October.
Tong is scheduled to start Saturday in Cincinnati, followed by Sproat on Sunday. McLean will make his fifth career start next week in Philadelphia. It’s still unclear how the Mets will work Senga into their short-term plans, if at all.
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