Prospects Mike Vasil, Christian Scott offer Mets intriguing options for pitching depth

As the Mets get closer to Opening Day on March 28, the biggest question mark on their roster remains their starting pitching. With Kodai Senga slated to start the season on the IL, what was already a high-ceiling, low-floor rotation filled with pitchers on expiring contracts and one-year, prove-it deals has become that much more of an unknown.

New York does have some options in-house that can step in such as Tylor Megill (who impressed on Thursday) as well as others like Joey Lucchesi and Jose Butto who, to their credit, both pitched well in the majors when called upon in 2023 (Not to mention David Peterson, who will start the season on the IL, but who should be ready to pitch at some point during the season).

However, what separates the Mets and their pitching depth this season from year’s past are the top pitching prospects in their system that are finally entering the fold and who have a chance to not only make their debuts as soon as this season, but, with all of that uncertainty in the rotation, to make a difference as well.

Two of those prospects, Mike Vasil and Christian Scott, were on the mound on Saturday afternoon when the Mets took on the Miami Marlins.

Vasil, pitching in his second spring training game of his career after making one appearance last season, threw a scoreless seventh inning with a strikeout. He allowed a leadoff double but escaped the jam unscathed and said he was a little more relaxed this time around than last year.

“I’d say the second time probably a little more relaxed just because I had been out there before,” Vasil said. “But I don’t think your first true baseball game of the year ever gets old so I think the adrenaline was still really high and I was just very, very excited.”

The right-hander followed Scott who pitched the sixth inning and gave up a run on a leadoff walk and two-out double in his first taste of spring training. The fellow righty also had a punch out, striking out Trey Mancini looking on a slider.

The 24-year-old, who said his goal for his outing was to throw his new sweeper as much as he could as well as throw his fastball up in the zone, was glad he was able to see how his stuff plays against big league hitters for the first time and is confident it will carry over to the majors.

“I know it’s gonna play in the big league level so it’s just a matter of going out there and doing it,” Scott said. “You gotta stay confident with your stuff, especially when you’re working on things. Being able to work on them in this atmosphere is really good for me and my confidence, so just being able to do that consistently is going to be key for me.”

Both Vasil and Scott, as well as fellow pitching prospect Dominic Hamel - who will pitch for the Mets on Sunday – were drafted by New York in 2021 and have grown through the minor league system together, becoming good friends throughout the process.

Now they have a chance to make their debuts together and make a real impact on the team.

“We warmed up together in the locker room, in the backfield, we threw and we were both very excited,” Vasil said about his and Scott’s approach to the day. “It’s pretty cool when you’ve got another guy from your draft class and a friend and somebody that you’re with every day and then you’re both going out there and throwing in a big league spring training game; it’s pretty special and it’s pretty cool. We’re both looking forward to watching Dom tomorrow and I think it’s pretty exciting times.”

Scott added: “It’s been awesome. I’ve seen them grow from when they were drafted to where they are now and it’s just the way we’ve all been working and we’ve all been challenging each other. I’ve said this before but when Dom and Mike go out there and they strike out seven, it makes you want to do that even more. It’s really special for all three of us.”

Asked whether he gave his friend any guff for allowing a run in his spring training debut, Vasil laughed and said he didn’t. However, he’s willing to give the people what they want.

“I guess if people want to see some friendly competition, we can start that,” he said.