Struggling pitching rotation prompts Mets to relegate Frankie Montas to the bullpen; possibility of young prospects being summoned to the major league roster.
New York Mets Seek Rotation Improvement with Prospect Call-Ups
The New York Mets are looking to bolster their rotation, with top prospects Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat emerging as the likely candidates to fill the vacancy left by Frankie Montas' move to the bullpen.
Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat are both on the Mets’ Triple-A Syracuse roster and are highly regarded as the team’s internal options. McLean, the Mets’ third-ranked prospect, has shown impressive form with a 2.78 ERA over 16 games (13 starts) at Triple-A. He recently made a strong major league debut and is considered slightly ahead of Sproat on the team’s internal depth chart.
Brandon Sproat, ranked fifth among Mets prospects, has been equally impressive, posting a 1.15 ERA over his last seven starts at Triple-A. He is expected to be available soon and could be called up to help ease the burden on the current rotation during a crucial stretch.
Paul Blackburn, another potential candidate, has been sidelined due to a right shoulder impingement, making him less likely in the near term.
McLean, a 24-year-old pitcher, brings a mid-90s fastball and a curveball with a near-50% whiff rate to the table. Sproat, also 24, has a 4.10 ERA and a 1.91 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 101 innings this season at the Triple-A level. His pitch mix includes a 96 mph fastball and two secondary offerings with whiff rates above 30%.
The Mets have been struggling with their rotation, using 14 starting pitchers over their last 53 games. Only one starter, David Peterson, has completed six or more innings in a contest during this period. The Mets are 22-31 in games where Peterson is not the starter, with non-Peterson starters combining for a 5.32 ERA.
Montas, who signed a one-year deal with a player option for the 2026 season, has struggled since returning from an injury, posting a 6.38 ERA and a 2.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His rotation slot may be filled by someone from Triple-A, such as Brandon Sproat or Nolan McLean.
As of August 2025, McLean and Sproat are the main internal candidates likely to replace Montas in the Mets' starting rotation. There has been no clear indication of other external acquisitions specifically for this vacancy, though the Mets remain active in the bullpen and trade markets overall. Sproat is scheduled to pitch on Wednesday based on his past schedule.
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- The Mets' rotation is receiving attention, with Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat being the most likely candidates to fill the void left by Frankie Montas' move to the bullpen.
- Both McLean and Sproat are currently on the Triple-A Syracuse roster and are highly regarded by the Mets as internal options.
- McLean, ranked third among Mets prospects, has shown impressive form with a 2.78 ERA in Triple-A games, and has recently demonstrated his skill at the major league level.
- Sproat, ranked fifth among Mets prospects, has been equally impressive with a 1.15 ERA in his last seven Triple-A starts, and is expected to be available for the MLB soon.
