The Mets will not have to search for starting-pitching depth outside of the organization for much longer thanks to the likes of Christian Scott.
New York’s No. 5 ranked prospect is off to a dizzying start with Triple-A Syracuse — his first season at this high of a level within the Mets’ organization.
After just two starts and nine innings pitched, the 24-year-old right-hander has struck out 19 batters, allowing four runs on seven hits with a 0.89 WHIP.
There is a home run problem — he has allowed three across those nine innings — but his ability to get swings and misses at such a high rate has surely caught the eye of the organization in these early parts of the season.
He allowed just three runs (two homers) on five hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in just four innings on April 4 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. On Wednesday night, he struck out 10 across five innings against Worcester, allowing just one run on two hits with one walk.
Scott has overhauled his arsenal from having one devastating pitch in college, a slider, to a four-pitch repertoire featuring an upper-90s four-seam fastball, gyro slider/cutter, sweeper, and a seldom-used curveball that appears on the cusp of playing at the major league level.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has made it known since his arrival that prospects are going to get a chance to play in the big leagues — especially this season with the club’s new regime wanting to see what young pieces they have to potentially supplement a World Series push in 2025.
“We have to provide young, talented players with opportunity at the major-league level,” Stearns said in January. “I believe over time, as you do that as an organization, you’re rewarded for it. You get really quality players who can contribute to your organization for a long time coming through your system. So I’m excited to see what our younger players can do.”
“I think one thing we’re really excited about and want to see play out is how some of our pitching prospects at Double-A and Triple-A continue to develop. And we’re at a spot with our organization where we have to give young players chances. I think we’re going to see some of our younger pitchers make their way to the big leagues and we will be a lot more informed about them a year from now.”
The state of the Mets’ rotation certainly lends itself to a Scott call-up. Kodai Senga has been transferred to the 60-day injured list and Tylor Megill is on the 15-day IL, both because of shoulder strains. Jose Butto is expected to get called up when he is eligible to join the 26-man roster on Friday, but a rotation of him, Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, Adrian Houser, and Jose Quintana still has understandable uncertainties moving forward.
None of those five arms are used to extensive workloads and one more injury could have the Mets scrambling for other options considering Max Kranick is dealing with a hamstring injury and Joey Lucchesi is the only other legitimate option.
