With the 56th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the New York Mets have selected right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat from the University of Florida. Sproat was previously drafted by the Mets at No. 90 overall in 2022, but Sproat chose to return to the University of Florida to pitch his senior year. The slot value for this pick is $1.47 million.
Coming into the 2023 draft, Sproat was ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 54 overall prospect in the draft.
Sproat is a 6’3” right-hander with impressive raw stuff. He has a four-pitch mix that includes a plus fastball, curveball, slider, and above-average changeup. His fastball averages close to 96 mph and he has touched 98 mph. His breaking pitches range in the mid-80’s. His fastball, though it can stay too straight at times, is his go-to pitch.
The #Mets most recent pick is Florida righty Brandon Sproat. pic.twitter.com/bySEltlyxF
— Josh Norris 🐻 (@jnorris427) July 18, 2022
After returning to UF for his Senior year, Sproat drastically improved his strikeout ability, jumping from 8.2 K/9 in 2022 to 11.3 K/9 this year. Sproat and the Gators were the 2023 NCAA College World Series runners up to LSU.
Sproat in 2023 was 8-3 with a 4.66 ERA. He struck out 134 this season and gave up just 55 earned runs over the course of 106.1 innings pitched. His performance in 2023 earned him a spot as a second-team All-SEC member.
His best start of 2023 came on March 16 vs Alabama. In his best performance of the year, and of his collegiate career, he struck out 11 in a complete game shutout against the Crimson Tide.
Over the course of his full career at Florida, Sproat was 17-7 with a. 4.09 ERA.
The Mets see something they like in Sproat as for the second year in a row, he is drafted by New York, and one round higher. It is common for players to be signed multiple times. After not signing in 2022, it is likely that now, as a UF graduate, Sproat will sign and go pro. Sproat was the third Gator drafted in the 2023 MLB draft.
