New York Mets top pitching prospect Christian Scott is getting the call to the big leagues where he is expected to make his major-league debut on Saturday in Tampa against the Rays, per multiple reports.
The 24-year-old right-hander — ranked No. 5 in the Mets’ farm system — made the jump to Triple-A this season after rising through the organizational ranks in 2023. In just one season he was promoted from Single-A St. Lucie to high-A Brooklyn, to Double-A Binghamton, going 5-4 with a 2.57 ERA across 19 starts. He struck out 107 in batters in 87.2 innings. This spring with Triple-A Syracuse, his strikeout numbers took another massive leap forward. He has 36 strikeouts compared to six walks in five starts (25.1 innings) to go with a 3.20 ERA. In his first two starts of 2024, he fanned 19.
“I think Christian has done everything we could have hoped and expected. He continues to throw the ball very well,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said on Monday. “I think there’s this balancing act when you call up a prospect… when is the prospect ready and then when is there the major league need? Often, those needs overlap and intersect and for some guys down there, we’re just waiting for that intersection to occur.”
The Mets’ starting rotation has performed admirably despite losing their ace Kodai Senga during spring training along with other depth pieces in Tylor Megill and Max Krannick. Outside of the struggling Adrian Houser, Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, Jose Butto, and Jose Quintana have combined to put up a 2.85 ERA this season.
However, length has been an issue outside of a recent spell of success which saw Severino go eight one-hit innings on Monday and Butto crank out six innings on Wednesday. This is a rotation that has not been accustomed to heavy workloads and the Mets have a particularly trying stretch in which they have 26 games in 27 days.
Calling up Scott gives the Mets the flexibility to provide an extra day of rest for other members of the rotation when necessary.
