Former Gator Brandon Sproat Shines in Major League Debut

Four words describe Brandon Sproat’s “Road to the Show": perseverance and never giving up. After being drafted at No. 56 overall by the Mets in the second round of the 2023 MLB draft, the former Gator chomped through Single-A and Double-A hitters and found himself facing Triple-A level bats less than one year into his professional career. That’s when things got more challenging. He struggled to get strikeouts, and his ERA climbed over 7.53 through seven starts.

The start of the 2025 season followed suit and his early season struggles led to Sproat being knocked off of MLB’s Top 100 prospect list.

The tides changed and the tables turned for Sproat in a much more positive direction in his last start of June when he threw six scoreless innings and struck out six. 

July was another very productive month for the 24-year old. Through five starts he was 2-0 with a 0.67 ERA. He gave up just two earned runs on the month on 14 hits, walked eight, and struck out 33.

In August, Sproat was 2-1, with a 4.85 ERA. He struck out 31 through 26 innings. Though it wasn’t his best month on paper, he still showed positive notes that the Mets took note of. And then on August 30 against the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate Scranton Wilkes-Barre Railriders, he twirled seven shutout innings, giving up three hits, two walks, and struck out.

That was all the Mets needed to see as on Friday, the Mets gave Sproat the news he’s been waiting for since 2023 when they told him he was going to the big leagues.

“I called my dad, called my mom, and broke down into tears. It was super awesome,” said Sproat on finding out from Syracuse’s manager he was starting Sunday for the Mets.

That moment finally came true on Sunday, with friends and family in attendance, Sproat stepped out onto the field at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati as the starting pitcher for the New York Mets. Two years of grueling work, and never giving up, finally paid off for the Pensacola, Florida native and former Gator ace.

Sproat’s first big league outing, though it didn’t end with a Mets win, was special and he was solid in his Major League debut. Sproat threw six innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits, four walks, and striking out seven. 

His first big league strikeout came in the bottom of the first on a strikeout to Elly De La Cruz to end the inning.

He went on to strikeout three in the third and finished with seven total strikeouts to end the day. He had a no-hitter through five before giving up three earned runs in the sixth which ended his outing. But Sproat was dominant in his outing.

“I thought it was really good,” said Sproat. “Didn’t have my best stuff out there, but went out there and competed for the team,” he said. “We fell short today, but on to the next one.” Sproat said he could hear his mom cheering from the stands as well throughout the game, saying, “I know that voice from anywhere.”

Among his favorite moments, he said being in a big league uniform, knowing he has the team behind him and supporting him, and then knowing he had his family with him were among the top.

“Knowing I’ve got my family in the stands cheering for me, and then seeing them after,” he said made his debut day special.

Sproat joins Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong as the youngest players on the Mets’ current active roster, proving the depth of New York’s farm system and the up & coming talent they have coming up in the minors.

He also joins former Gator, Jac Caglianone as the second Gator to make an MLB debut in 2025.