Mets Prospect Notes: Blade Tidwell dazzles, Brandon Sproat struggles

Here are notes on the Mets' top prospects who are currently with Triple-A Syracuse...

Blade Tidwell picks up where he left off

Tidwell opened eyes in spring training when he fired an immaculate inning on March 1.

During his first start of the season in Triple-A this past Friday, Tidwell fired 5.0 innings of one-hit, one-run ball while walking one and striking out five.

It was a struggle in Triple-A for Tidwell last season in what was his first taste at the level, as he posted a 5.93 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 85.0 innings. Those difficulties followed what was a dominant showing earlier in the season for Double-A Binghamton, where Tidwell had a 2.41 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 44 strikeouts in 37.1 innings.

If Tidwell is able to find his footing in Triple-A this season, he could emerge as an option for the big league rotation should a need arise.

The hard-throwing 23-year-old's eventual home could be the bullpen, as SNY contributor Joe DeMayo explained in his recent top 30 Mets prospects update, but there's also a chance Tidwell sticks in the rotation. And his first start this season was a good step.

Tough season debut for Brandon Sproat

Pitching in Worcester against Boston's Triple-A affiliate on a day where the temperature topped out around 40 degrees, Sproat struggled.

In 2.0 innings, Sproat was touched up for four runs. He gave up three hits, walked three, and struck out three.

Like Tidwell, it's likely that Sproat will make his big league debut at some point in 2025.

But the expectations are higher for Sproat, who is ranked as the No. 1 prospect on SNY's top 30 and is widely viewed as one of the best pitching prospects in baseball.

Drew Gilbert opens season on IL

Gilbert's 2024 season was disrupted due to a hamstring injury that limited him to 62 games.

He played 21 games in the Arizona Fall League in order to get more reps in, and he did well -- posting a .783 OPS in 21 games.

But Gilbert did not play in any spring training games during camp and has opened the year on Syracuse's 7-day IL, seemingly since he still needs more time to build up fully.