CINCINNATI — Brandon Sproat’s last 2 ½ months at Triple-A Syracuse were enough to convince Mets brass he’s ready for a shot at the highest level.
The right-hander’s major league debut is set for Sunday against the Reds, and the Mets are anxiously awaiting the arrival of that talented young arm. Sproat will join Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong among top pitching prospects to debut for the club in recent weeks.
“I am pretty sure [Sproat] was frustrated when he didn’t get the call [previously],” manager Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets faced the Reds on Friday. “But he went out and said, ‘Here I am.’ And here is getting an opportunity for us. But also we don’t want to put too much pressure on him.”
Sproat, who turns 25 in a week, pitched to a 2.59 ERA in his last 11 starts for Syracuse.
“We have really seen it now consistently over the last two or 2½ months, signs of a front-line pitcher,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “He’s carried his velocity very consistently late into games. … We feel confident he can compete on this level and looking forward to watching him on Sunday.”
Mendoza confirmed that McLean will start Monday’s series opener in Philadelphia, with Sean Manaea set for the following night.
Tylor Megill will start another rehab game for Triple-A Syracuse, on Sunday, before a decision is reached on his status, according to Mendoza. The right-hander threw a bullpen session Friday.
Hayden Senger was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to create roster space for Francisco Alvarez. The Mets also activated reliever Wander Suero, who was claimed off waivers from the Braves a day earlier. Suero took Kodai Senga’s roster spot.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
