No. 1: Brandon Sproat, RHP

B/T: R/R      Age: 24 (09/17/2000)
Height: 6’3″   Weight: 215lbs
Acquired: Selected in the 2nd round of the 2023 MLB Draft
ETA: 2025
2024 Stats: Triple-A Syracuse: 7 G (7 GS), 7.53 ERA, 1.640 WHIP, 28.2 IP, 21 SO, 11 BB, .313 BAA
Double-A Binghamton: 11 G (11 GS), 2.45 ERA, 0.866 WHIP, 62.1 IP, 77 SO, 15 BB, .181 BAA
High-A Brooklyn: 6 G (5 GS), 1.07 ERA, 1.105 WHIP, 25.1 IP, 33 SO, 16 BB, .141 BAA

Overview

The Mets selected Brandon Sproat in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft as the 56th overall pick. However, it wasn’t Sproat’s first cup of coffee with the team. New York selected the 24-year-old in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft, however, he did not sign and returned to the University of Florida. The Mets could only re-draft Sproat if he agreed to sign with the player agreed. Believe it or not, this was Sproat’s third time being drafted — the Rangers selected him in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB Draft, but he opted to honor his commitment to Florida.

While attending the University of Florida, the right-hander compiled a 19-8 record across four seasons and a 4.27 ERA. In 227 ⅔ innings, he struck out 242 and allowed 99 walks. In his final 2023 season in Florida, he struck out 134 batters across 106 ⅓ innings but struggled to limit the long ball, ballooning his ERA to 4.60. Alas, the Mets still committed to him and signed him at slot value, around $1.4 million.

Sproat turned heads in his first minor league season, quickly rising as the top pitching prospect in the Mets’ organization. He quickly rose through the minor league system after carving through lower-level lineups. Between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, Sproat amassed a smashing 1.935 ERA in 18 games pitched (87 ⅔ innings) and struck out 110 batters while limiting hitters to 31 walks and seven home runs.

His 32.4% and 33.2% strikeout rates in both levels baffled hitters, and batters hit a meager .161 average against him between both levels (.141 Brooklyn, .180, Binghamton). However, once Sproat moved up to Syracuse, things took a turn. His ERA ballooned to 7.83 in just under 30 innings of work, and his strikeout percentage was cut in half to 16.3%.

Much can be attributed to tiredness — Sproat likely grew tired and ran out of gas. Also, president of baseball operations, David Stearns, noted how he’d rather have players struggle in Triple-A, work out the kinks there, and find quick success once reaching the majors. However, Triple-A batters ate up his fastball, hitting a whopping .380 off the pitch alone.

Sproat throws a fastball, curveball, changeup, slider and cutter with the fastball and changeup his best pitches. MLB.com grated his fastball and changeup at a 60 (above average). They noted his fastball stands out more for its velocity rather than its shape and sits around the 95-98 mph range. He can work his changeup in the upper 80s and gets the most movement on that pitch, using it as a weapon predominantly against lefties. His sweeping slider averages 83-85 mph, while his cutter goes between 86-88 mph. The curve, meanwhile, sits at 79-81 mph to offer a change in pace to hitters as a put-away pitch.

He currently ranks as the ninth-best pitching prospect in baseball, the 46th overall prospect in MLB, and the top prospect for the Mets.

Brandon Sproat. Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

2025 Outlook

It’s hard to see a world where Sproat doesn’t debut with the Mets in 2025 (barring injury or setback). He’ll start the 2025 campaign with the Syracuse Mets, where he played his last seven games in 2024 and ran into his first struggles in his young career. As mentioned, David Stearns and company prefer players to figure things out and struggle in places like Triple-A rather than in Queens (hence Sproat’s quick progression through the Mets’ system). Most importantly, Sproat must hone his pitch repertoire, especially his fastball, before facing major league hitters.

Once Sproat works out his kinks in Triple-A, it’s hard not to see a late-season call-up. Whether he sticks around remains to be seen, however, come 2026 and beyond, he’ll be a mainstay in Citi Field.

Previous Rankings