Remember Christian Scott? He was the first of the Mets' young minor league starters to make his MLB debut in the summer of 2024. It's impressive that the Mets' farm system is so strong, even after Scott's Tommy John surgery and the trading away of three top pitching prospects. Despite these setbacks, the Mets still have a wealth of young starting pitchers. Scott, who entered 2024 as the Mets' #5 prospect, had a rocky but promising start to his big league career. Injuries can happen at any time and set players back. That's exactly what happened to Scott. A University of Florida graduate, he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 draft. His professional career was unremarkable until the spring of 2023 when he switched to starting in Brooklyn and started to put it all together. In six starts for the Cyclones, Scott had a 2.28 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 23.2 innings, walking just four. He continued to dominate in Binghamton, with a 2.47 ERA in 12 starts, an 11.2 K/9 rate, and just eight walks in 62 innings pitched. He began 2024 in Syracuse, looking strong with 36 strikeouts and just six walks in six starts. Scott's success was largely due to his fastballs. He worked on his four-seam fastball during the Arizona Fall League and over the winter of 2022, and its emergence may have been the reason he was so good in 2023. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and tops out in the high-90s, making it difficult for batters to square up. Additionally, his two-seam fastball has a lot of arm-side and sinking movement, making it a solid pitch. Scott made his MLB debut on May 4, pitching six and two-thirds innings against the Rays, his best start of the season in terms of length, run prevention, and walks allowed. He struck out six, his second-best of the season. Despite a few quality starts, Scott didn't pick up a win in his nine starts for the team. However, home runs were an issue in 2024, with 18 home runs given up in 18 starts across the two levels. Scott was placed on the IL in July and eventually had Tommy John surgery, putting him out for the rest of 2024 and all of 2025. Despite these setbacks, the Mets still have high hopes for Scott. He is seen as a key part of the team's pitching development pipeline, a product of improved processes as they play catch-up with the sport's powerhouses. Scott's success won't herald a new age of pitching wealth, but it would be a strong sign that the organization is moving in the right direction. His fastball, which touches 98 and has excellent shape, is further improved by his elite command of the pitch. While he lacks a standout secondary pitch, a conservative projection still has him as a near MLB-ready mid-rotation starter. With another jump out of one of his secondaries, he could become a legitimate #2 rotation option. If Scott can return healthy with the same control and fastball he had in 2024, he'll be a key part of the Mets' plans for 2026 and beyond. If he can limit home runs, he'll be a major asset. And if he can't, the team's construction and farm system will support him. That's a fantastic place for Scott to be in, without too much pressure, and a great place for the club, without the need to rush Scott before he's fully healed.
