With the Mets having recently promoted two of their top pitching prospects this season, Brandon Sproat remains the last man standing and still pitching in the minor leagues. He was in action once again on Saturday, pitching for Triple-A Syracuse and made his latest case to be the next pitcher promoted to the majors.
Facing the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, the right-hander pitched seven scoreless innings and matched his season-high with nine strikeouts in a 2-0 win for the Mets. He allowed just three hits (all singles) and two walks and even added a pickoff at first base.
It was just the second time Sproat went seven innings this season.
The 24-year-old's fantastic outing came on the heels of one of his worst starts in which he allowed seven runs (five earned) in 3.2 innings. In fact, after an incredible July (0.67 ERA), Sproat had struggled in August and entered the game with a 6.63 ERA for the month.
With his seven shutdown innings, the prospect's ERA dropped from 4.50 to 4.24.
Also in the game was Francisco Alvarez who returned to the lineup for the first time since breaking his pinky after a hit by pitch. Batting third and DHing, Alvarez finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
He shouldn't feel too bad, though, as Syracuse managed just three hits and struck out 11 times.
As for other notable prospects in the game, Luisangel Acuña went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in the leadoff spot while Ryan Clifford finished 1-for-4 with a run-scoring single.
Meanwhile, Jett Williams was scratched from the lineup right before game time with wrist soreness, per MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. The team doesn't believe it to be serious.
The top prospect was batting second and playing second base but was replaced by Yonny Hernandez (batting eighth) who got Syracuse on the board with a solo shot in the top of the third inning.
In 16 games since getting promoted to Triple-A, Williams is slashing .197/.254/.348 with five extra-base hits and just one stolen base. Overall, the 21-year-old is still enjoying a fantastic season with his .268/.390/.477 triple slash line.