Mets’ Top Prospect Brandon Sproat Focused on Staying ‘In the Moment’ at Spring Training #1

Brandon Sproat, the New York Mets’ top-ranked prospect, is embracing the present as he attends his first Major League Spring Training. Despite a meteoric rise through the Mets’ farm system and a brief stint at Triple-A Syracuse last season, Sproat remains grounded, focusing on growth and learning rather than past accolades or future expectations.

“You’ve got to be in the moment and be present,” Sproat said Thursday at Clover Park. “You can’t be looking toward the future. That’s what gets people in trouble.”

Sproat, a hard-throwing right-hander, quickly ascended prospect rankings after a dominant 2023 season. By August, he was ranked https://www.storenymets.com/collections/francisco-alvarez-jersey as the Mets’ No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline, thanks to a 2.05 ERA over 17 appearances at High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton. However, his transition to Triple-A Syracuse proved challenging, as he posted a 7.53 ERA in seven starts. Sproat acknowledged that nerves and pressure played a role in his struggles, but he views the experience as a valuable learning opportunity.

“I kind of got away from who I am up there,” Sproat said. “It’s a learning curve. You learn from it and move on.”

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of adversity in player development. “You want those guys to face some type of adversity and see how they’re going to respond,” Mendoza said. “That’s part of being a big leaguer—the mental side. How are you going to bounce back after a bad outing?”

Despite the late-season struggles, the Mets remain high on Sproat’s potential. Armed with a fastball that reaches 101 mph, a newly developed two-seamer, a sharp changeup, and two distinct sliders, Sproat has the tools of a frontline starter. During a live batting practice session Thursday, he showcased his arsenal, striking out Tyrone Taylor and keeping hitters like Brett Baty off balance with a mix of four-seam and two-seam fastballs.

“He’s good,” Baty said. “He’s really good.”

Sproat’s time in big league camp has also been an opportunity to learn from established pitchers like Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea. While he won’t break camp with the Major League team, Sproat’s performance this spring will be closely monitored as he prepares to return to Triple-A for further development.

With a deep rotation that includes veterans like Tylor Megill and Paul Blackburn, Sproat’s path to the Majors may not be immediate. However, his talent and determination make him a key part of the Mets’ future plans. Drafted twice by the Mets out of the University of Florida, Sproat has consistently impressed with his work ethic and ability.

“You’ve got to look at it like, ‘All right, I’m here today,’” Sproat said. “That’s what I’m focused on.”

As the Mets continue to build for the future, Sproat’s development will be a storyline to watch. For now, the 23-year-old is focused on staying in the moment, honing his craft, and preparing for the next step in his journey to the Major Leagues.

Brandon Sproat, the New York Mets’ top-ranked prospect, is embracing the present as he attends his first Major League Spring Training. Despite a meteoric rise through the Mets’ farm system and a brief stint at Triple-A Syracuse last season, Sproat remains grounded, focusing on growth and learning rather than past accolades or future expectations. “You’ve got to be in the moment and be present,” Sproat said Thursday at Clover Park. “You can’t be looking toward the future. That’s what gets people in trouble.” Sproat, a hard-throwing right-hander, quickly ascended prospect rankings after a dominant 2023 season. By August, he was ranked https://www.storenymets.com/collections/francisco-alvarez-jersey as the Mets’ No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline, thanks to a 2.05 ERA over 17 appearances at High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton. However, his transition to Triple-A Syracuse proved challenging, as he posted a 7.53 ERA in seven starts. Sproat acknowledged that nerves and pressure played a role in his struggles, but he views the experience as a valuable learning opportunity. “I kind of got away from who I am up there,” Sproat said. “It’s a learning curve. You learn from it and move on.” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of adversity in player development. “You want those guys to face some type of adversity and see how they’re going to respond,” Mendoza said. “That’s part of being a big leaguer—the mental side. How are you going to bounce back after a bad outing?” Despite the late-season struggles, the Mets remain high on Sproat’s potential. Armed with a fastball that reaches 101 mph, a newly developed two-seamer, a sharp changeup, and two distinct sliders, Sproat has the tools of a frontline starter. During a live batting practice session Thursday, he showcased his arsenal, striking out Tyrone Taylor and keeping hitters like Brett Baty off balance with a mix of four-seam and two-seam fastballs. “He’s good,” Baty said. “He’s really good.” Sproat’s time in big league camp has also been an opportunity to learn from established pitchers like Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea. While he won’t break camp with the Major League team, Sproat’s performance this spring will be closely monitored as he prepares to return to Triple-A for further development. With a deep rotation that includes veterans like Tylor Megill and Paul Blackburn, Sproat’s path to the Majors may not be immediate. However, his talent and determination make him a key part of the Mets’ future plans. Drafted twice by the Mets out of the University of Florida, Sproat has consistently impressed with his work ethic and ability. “You’ve got to look at it like, ‘All right, I’m here today,’” Sproat said. “That’s what I’m focused on.” As the Mets continue to build for the future, Sproat’s development will be a storyline to watch. For now, the 23-year-old is focused on staying in the moment, honing his craft, and preparing for the next step in his journey to the Major Leagues.

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Mets’ Top Prospect Brandon Sproat Focused on Staying ‘In the Moment’ at Spring Training #1