Earlier this season, when Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns was in the press room at Citi Field, a chunk of his conversation with the media had to do with pitching prospect Brandon Sproat.
Back in front of reporters Friday, Stearns was once again discussing the meteoric rise of Sproat, but this time the right-hander was sitting in the room.
The Mets honored their player development award winners ahead of the second game of a four-game set with the Phillies.
Sproat — the Mets’ No. 1 prospect — was named the organization’s minor league Pitcher of the Year and outfielder Nick Morabito earned minor league Player of the Year honors.
“I think both of them have added different elements to their game and continued to progress,” Stearns said while praising the two prospects on their 2024 seasons.
“Brandon doesn’t know about this, but a couple of press conferences ago, when I was here, the press conference pretty much revolved around you,” Stearns said looking back toward the pitcher. “There were so many questions about [Sproat] that I ultimately had to steer it in another direction.”
Sproat later said he had been unaware of that.
But Sproat has been on Stearns’ radar as the University of Florida product has ascended through the Mets system, from beginning the year in High-A to earning a call-up to Triple-A Syracuse in mid-August.
In 23 minor league starts across High-A, Double-A and Triple-A, Sproat carried a 3.40 ERA and struck out 131 batters, which included striking out 11 consecutive batters in his final Double-A Binghamton start before he was called up to Syracuse.
“It’s been a ton of fun. It’s been a roller coaster,” Sproat said, looking back on his season.
The righty explained that when it came to the differences at each level this season, the biggest jump was the one that came going from Double-A to Triple-A. Sproat said that he had to learn how to approach batters in different ways and was going up against guys that had seen time in the major leagues.
“I think the biggest thing for me is learning to take control on the mound,” Sproat said before the Mets’ ugly 12-2 loss to the Phillies. “When things get tough, learn to accept it. Learn to go about it in a way where I’ve been through this before and how do I go about this to almost limit the damage as much as possible.”
Sproat added that he has come a long way since he started the year and that he’s gained confidence at every level he’s traversed.
While the 24-year-old is just one step away from the majors, he said Friday that he wasn’t getting ahead of himself.
“When it’s my time, it’s my time,” Sproat said. “I’m fully confident in myself that I can come up here and make an impact for this team. Especially all the help behind the older guys, that will be even more helpful.”
