PORT ST. LUCIE — The Class of 2021 is a source of pride for the Mets as they look toward their pitching future.
Christian Scott, Mike Vasil and Dominic Hamel likely won’t be candidates to break camp with the team, but the trio of top organizational pitching prospects — all drafted by the Mets in July 2021 — will receive a first significant opportunity for evaluation in major league spring training.
The Mets originally planned to have that group start the team’s first three exhibition games this spring, but an audible was called about two weeks ago: Tylor Megill, Jose Butto and Max Kranick are now scheduled for those starts beginning Saturday, according to pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
But there is still a plan to incorporate Scott, Vasil and Hamel into games later in the first week.
“Coming into camp we have a pretty good idea who they are as pitchers,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “The big key is they are getting ready for their season as well. There is no rush and don’t try to do anything crazy, especially early in camp. But we know who they are.”
In Megill, Butto and Joey Lucchesi, among others, the Mets have depth behind their projected starting five of Kodai Senga, Luis Severino, Jose Quintana, Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser.
But Mendoza can also envision the prospects receiving an opportunity this season.
“To get to 162-plus [games] you are going to need a lot of them and they are right there in the conversation,” Mendoza said. “We’ll be talking about depth, and they provide that in the quality arms. They have got things they need to continue to work on, just like all of them, but it’s important to have guys that are knocking at the door that at some point are going to be a big part of what we’re trying to do.”
Scott, 24, is widely regarded as the organization’s top pitching prospect after a season in which he started 19 games at three levels, getting as far as Double-A Binghamton.
The right-hander pitched to a 2.57 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 87 ²/₃ innings overall.
The University of Florida product began his professional career as a reliever and didn’t become a full-time starter until last year
. An oblique strain early in the season prompted Scott to change his mechanics and utilize his lower body and receive better play with his fastball.
“As a reliever coming up I only had to go out for an inning or two and being able to stay consistent for six or seven innings takes an adjustment or two,” Scott said.
Vasil, 23, reached Syracuse in the second half of last season, but said he initially struggled in adapting to the automated strike zone. He was encouraged by the fact he allowed three earned runs or fewer in six of his final eight starts.
“No excuses, but it definitely was an adjustment at first and I would say it played more of a mental game than physical game because once I got used to it I knew I could throw strikes like I typically do,” Vasil said.
“But I think at first when you are not getting calls you think you would because it’s an automatic zone and that definitely messes you up. I think once I got in a groove there at the end of the year, those last six to eight starts I finished strong and I was really happy about it.”
The right-hander had a cameo with the Mets in spring training last year, traveling to start against the Braves. Team officials were pleased with the composure Vasil showed in that outing.
Overall, the former University of Virginia standout pitched to a 4.79 ERA last season in his 26 starts for Binghamton and Syracuse.
Hamel, the organization’s Pitcher of the Year in 2022, spent all of last season at Binghamton, where he pitched to a 3.85 ERA in 26 appearances, with 160 strikeouts in 124 innings.
“The first third of the year I definitely started off well and then went through a rough patch, just figuring out my usage with a couple of new pitches,” said Hamel, who added a sweeper and cutter.
Hamel, 24, recognizes the opportunity is there this season for himself, Scott and Vasil.
“It’s cool watching them pitch and be successful in their own ways,” Hamel said. “It’s even better knowing we’re from the same draft class.”
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