Mets top pitching prospect makes big statement in spring start: ‘I’m ready’

JUPITER, Fla. — Christian Scott stood outside the Mets clubhouse, about 100 feet away from the seats in left field in Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, around the same place he sat as a kid.

A few minutes earlier, Scott, who grew up 30-45 minutes away in Coconut Creek and had 30 friends and family in attendance, completed his first start against big-league hitters in the Grapefruit League. In four innings, the Mets’ top pitching prospect allowed one run on two hits with seven strikeouts.

“I used to always envision myself out there,” Scott told reporters. “So it’s nice to be able to go out there and compete.”

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Though the Mets didn’t announce Scott as the starter until yesterday, he revealed that he knew he was getting the ball against the Marlins before then.

“I had a bullpen in preparation for it. They gave me a little bit of a heads up,” he said. “It’s just another game, just go out there and compete at a high level (and) trust my stuff.”

Scott threw 59 pitches (44 strikes) in his outing, seeing success with his four-seamer, which topped out at 96.5 mph, and sweeper, which he debuted for the first time in camp. He threw those pitches 45 times (76.2% of total pitches), generating a called strike or a swing-and-miss 21 times, 46.6% of the time. All seven of his strikeouts came on either one of these pitches — four on the four-seamer and three on the sweeper.

The fastball in particular stood out to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.

“His low release with ride and velo, he plays it up,” an impressed Mendoza told reporters after the Mets’ 6-3 win over the Marlins. “We saw it today with the way he was attacking hitters. They were having a hard time picking it up.

“You hear a lot about this kid (and) watching him go about it today, the way he threw the baseball, it was special (and) it was exciting.”

Scott could be someone fans see make an MLB debut at some point this season. The Mets intend to turn to a six-man rotation at points throughout the season, and 6-foot-4 righty figures to be in the mix at some point.

This is one of the reasons Scott was given the start, to get a taste of what’s to come.

“It’s very important (to) get in a major league game and to go four innings, and the way he did it, facing big league hitters is a really good experience,” Mendoza added. “And I think it’s important for those guys to go through it. Overall, pretty impressive.”

Drafted by the Mets in the fifth round in 2021, Scott’s ascent through the minor leagues has been impressive. Last season, he was named the Minor League Pitcher of the Year after posting a 2.57 ERA and a 0.856 WHIP, best among Met farmhands, in 19 starts between Single-A St. Lucie, High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton.

As a result, entering 2024, Scott is listed as the team’s No. 6 prospect, according to Baseball America. He’s not letting that get to his head, however.

“I’m ready for whatever they have in store for me...,” Scott said. “I have a lot of confidence in my stuff, so whenever the call may be, I’m going to be ready for it for sure.”

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Manny Gómez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.