MLB Futures Game: Florida, Pace baseball alum Brandon Sproat shows off fiery pitching

New York Mets pitching prospect Brandon Sproat got one inning of work in during the MLB All-Star Futures Game on Saturday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Sproat, a Pace High and University of Florida baseball alum, threw 12 pitches in his inning of action during the third frame for the National League Futures team. He got up to 99 MPH with his fastball.

After a longer at-bat to open the inning, seven pitches, Sproat forced the batter into a broken-bat pop fly into foul territory behind third base, which was easily caught by Cincinnati Reds prospect Cam Collier.

The second batter of the inning reached first base safely after a bobbled grounder at short stop. But Sproat wasn't phased and threw just one pitch to the third batter of the inning, forcing the batter into a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning.

The National League Futures team defeated the American League team, 6-1.

Sproat is currently playing in Double-A Binghamton within the Mets' minor league system. He was promoted to Double-A on May 13 after a strong stint with the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Sproat has started eight games with Binghamton, recording four wins in the process. He's thrown 48.1 innings with 52 strikeouts and a 2.05 earned-runs against average. His opposing batting average is just .182.

In 14 games in the minor leagues, Sproat has 73.2 innings with 85 strikeouts and a 1.71 ERA.

In the most recent MLB Pipeline Prospect Rankings, Sproat clocked in at No. 97, and is the sixth-best prospect in the New York Mets system. He's the second-highest pitching prospect.

Sproat is a two-time PNJ All-Area First Team selection from his days at Pace, and was an All-State team selection his senior season. In 2019, Sproat went 5-2 with a 1.53 ERA and 53 strikeouts. That was preceded by a 10-4 record with a 1.78 ERA during his junior season, when he led the Patriots to the Class 7A State Championship game.

Sproat played college baseball at Florida where he had a combined 19-8 record in 56 appearances over the course of four seasons. He struck out 242 batters in 223 2/3 innings. He also saw action in the postseason for Florida last year, including in the College World Series against both Virginia and Louisiana State.

Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached on X (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at BGrieco@gannett.com.