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I got my first look at Brandon Sproat on Sunday.  Rated the Mets top pitching prospect, the Florida native and 2023 second round pick was absolutely dominant in his first two innings facing Erie (the AA Pirates) -- striking out five of the first seven batters he faced (there was one not-hard-hit single by Erie).

Things unraveled in the 3rd after an error put the leadoff man on.  Then a combination of hits, walks, steals and a wild pitch lead to three runs. Sproat returned for the fourth, was unscored on -- but unlike the 1st two frames, the Erie batters kept making solid contact.  Still, he's close to following Christian Scott to Flushing.  Whether Sunday's stumble (Sproat's first loss after four straight AA victories) was from being rattled, overthrowing or trouble locating his fastball, Mets fans have plenty to look forward to.  Just not in 2024.

The Braves sported these special patches 10 years ago to honor Henry Aaron becoming baseball's alltime home run champion.  The message and the achievement are just as important as ever in the year we mark the 50th anniversary of that special night at Fulton County Stadium.
And while we're talking Braves, here's a 2014 look at Freddie Freeman, then in his fourth season as Atlanta's 1st baseman.
Rhylan Bannon's career in the Mets organization ended when he was beaned in a July 9th game against Scranton Wilkes-Barre.  Quickly placed on the Injured List, the veteran minor leaguer was then traded Tuesday to the Twins -- whose regular shortstop Carlos Correa is dealing with plantar fasciitis -- where he hopes to duplicate his first half AAA numbers: 15 homers and an .866 OPS.

(Below:)  You can almost hear Bob Uecker narrating this: "Just a little bit high!"  Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder ducks under a Mike Vasil pitch in an April game between the Worcester Red Sox and Syracuse Mets.
From April: I really liked this closeup of Mark Vientos.  After starting the season in AAA, he's taken over as the Mets regular 3rd baseman with an OPS around .900 and a string of important hits.

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