It’s been a busy past few weeks for the Mets, as far as debuts are concerned. Yet another impressive pitching prospect will make his debut in September, as Brandon Sproat will reportedly start for the Mets on September 7 against the Reds.
A Look at Sproat
Three years ago, the Mets picked Brandon Sproat in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft. He opted not to sign but the Mets selected him again in the second round the following season. Sproat signed and quickly ascended the Mets’ organizational ladder.
Sproat was an overwhelming pitcher in college, one who routinely dialed it up to 99-100 MPH with the Florida Gators. However, he had his command problems; Sproat, despite 134 strikeouts in 2023, walked 48 and conceded 15 home runs. He burned off some of those concerns last season.
The now-24-year-old raced up the Minors in 2024. Sproat started in High-A, ended in Triple-A, and struck out 131 batters over 116 innings pitched between three levels last season.
His strikeout numbers were not as impressive in 2025; he spent the entire season in Syracuse (AAA) up to this point. Sproat struck out 113 over 121 frames, with a slightly elevated BB/9 of 3.9.
As noted earlier, Sproat was a gunslinger in college, and that remained true in the pros. The 24-year-old hit 101 MPH with the S-Mets this season but averaged 96 MPH with his four-seamer. Nonetheless, the velocity is there when he needs it.
Sproat, a heavy ground-ball pitcher, has two fastballs: a four-seamer with not a significant amount of upstairs carry, and a heavier, running sinker. That sinker, from a movement perspective, will play off his changeup, which can run as high as the low-90s and low as the mid-80s.
Aside from those two pitches, Sproat works with a slower curveball in the mid-70s that doesn’t have the same kind of break and action as compared to fellow rookie Nolan McLean. And, Sproat works with two additional breaking balls, a slider and sweeper, the latter of which had a 35.9% Whiff% with Syracuse.
Sproat can get on hitters, preventing them from making good, quality contact. It’s not a shock to think that’s the case with his velocity and sinker usage. But to quantify it, his Barrel/PA was 2.9, which would be better than the MLB league average if he were to maintain that at the next level.
In his final start before the reported promotion, Sproat struck out nine over seven scoreless innings. He worked out of the bullpen in his previous outing, one that didn’t go well. Sproat gave up seven hits and five earned runs over 3.2 IP.
The Mets will start Brandon Sproat on September 7 for his MLB debut against the Reds, per MLB.com.
Analysis
Before anything, it’s important to clear up some things on Sproat, who wasn’t on the Mets’ 40-man roster heading into September.
Since Sproat wasn’t on the 40-man but was in the organization, the Mets would have to petition the league office to make him postseason-eligible. This clause is generally reserved for injury replacements. There is ample precedent for this, as the Tigers used it in 2024 to make Jackson Jobe eligible. And two years earlier, the Mets used it to make Francisco Alvarez an option after he was promoted in the final week of 2022.
The right-hander figures to be a piece for the Mets moving forward, thanks to his velocity and stuff. But in the short term, Sproat becomes incredibly important, especially since he’ll take the rotation spot of Kodai Senga.
Senga’s numbers have gone south since the All-Star break. The 34-year-old walked 22 and gave up eight home runs across 35.2 IP since the middle of July. He’s one of several Mets pitchers, including Sean Manaea and reliever Ryan Helsley, to have scuffled in recent weeks.
Sproat becomes the third Mets rookie pitcher to join the team’s rotation, alongside Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong. Both McLean and Tong were behind Sproat — who was knocking on the door late last season — last season but quickly passed him this season. Now, the former Gator will get his shot.
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