Will the 24-Year-Old Pitcher Be the Mets Newest Asset?
The New York Mets have had a whirlwind of a season. Between long stretches of offensive challenges, exhausting the resources in the bullpen, and moments of greatness, the team has lacked the consistency to find its stable ground. Searching for this stability, the team has called up and debuted at least six pitchers over the course of the 2025 season, including pitching phenomenon Nolan McLean. While Carlos Mendoza is looking for the team to find even footing, he is putting his trust in a new player: Brandon Sproat.
Drafted out of the University of Florida, Sproat became a promising player in the minors. At Triple-A Syracuse, Sproat has had a solid season after a shaky start. Since June, he’s remained a reliable force on the field with a 2.44 ERA, 70 strikeouts, 0.93 WHIP, and a .163 average against over 59 innings. Sproat has credited his focus on getting back to the “basics” as a way for him to sharpen his pitching game and stay confident when challenges come.
As teammates like Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong were called up to play in the major league, Sproat waited patiently for his chance. That waiting period could have been discouraging, but instead, he used it as motivation to keep refining his approach. By remaining positive and consistent in his pitching, even while waiting for his chance, he showed the kind of resilience the Mets desperately need in the middle of a tight season. Consistency is exactly what the Mets need if they have any chance of winning their division. In fact, a lack of consistency on the field, whether from the offense, bullpen, or fans, has led them astray in times when they should have been soaring. The starting rotation has combined for an ERA hovering around 4.50, with only a handful of starters able to consistently pitch deep into games. The bullpen, meanwhile, has logged more innings than nearly any other relief unit in the National League. The potential seen by Sproat, Tong, and McLean is promising. The three are a major surge of resilience that can bolster the team's ability to keep calm and win when the pressure is highest.
When Brandon Sproat makes his debut on the field today, September 7th, fans will be watching another addition to the new foundation of the Mets. He’ll join a rotation that suddenly looks much younger and more energized than it did at the start of the year. The hope is that he carries over the composure he’s shown in Syracuse to the big-league roster. If he can stretch out innings, take pressure off the bullpen, and keep the Mets in games, it could make a real difference to the team. For the Mets and their journey for consistency, Brandon Sproat might just be the pitcher who helps them find it.
