Christian Scott Turns Heads in Mets Camp with Electric Stuff - Including a Strikeout of Juan Soto
**PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.
** - It’s early February, and live batting practice sessions are usually more about shaking off the rust than making statements. But Christian Scott didn’t get that memo - or maybe he just chose to ignore it.
Facing big-league hitters for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery, the 26-year-old right-hander stepped onto the mound at Clover Park and delivered a loud reminder of what made him one of the Mets’ most intriguing pitching prospects not long ago. The exclamation point? A four-pitch strikeout of none other than Juan Soto - yes, that Juan Soto - who swung through two high heaters before walking back to the cage.
“That’s what makes him who he is,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after the session. “His ability to attack the zone and the way that fastball explodes.”
Make no mistake - nobody’s crowning spring training champions in mid-February. Hitters are still finding their timing, and pitchers are often tinkering with mechanics or working on specific pitches. But even in that context, Scott’s performance stood out.
The fastball had life. The command was sharp.
And the confidence? That was back, too.
“I feel like I can get anybody out at this level when my stuff’s on and I’m competing in the strike zone,” Scott said.
That confidence isn’t just talk. Along with his signature fastball, Scott’s arsenal now includes a newly added cutter and changeup - both developed during his rehab process.
The early results suggest he’s not just healthy, but evolving. After his live BP session, he sought feedback from Soto and veteran Marcus Semien, asking how the new pitches looked coming out of his hand.
That kind of initiative - blending self-awareness with a desire to grow - is exactly what you want to see from a pitcher trying to carve out a role.
Scott’s comeback trail has been a quiet one. After making nine starts for the Mets in 2024 and posting a 4.56 ERA, his name faded a bit from the spotlight - especially with the emergence of Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong in 2025. But now, with a clean bill of health and a deeper pitch mix, he’s back in the conversation.
“He’s put himself in a position to be ready to go now,” Mendoza said.
The Mets aren’t rushing anything, but they’re clearly encouraged by what they’re seeing. Scott is already on a five-day throwing program and ramping up with two-inning sessions that have topped out at 30-plus pitches. That workload suggests he’s on track to start the season on time - and potentially be more than just depth.
Much like the uncertainty surrounding Kodai Senga’s spring status, Scott’s development is one of the key storylines in camp. The Mets are taking a measured approach, but they know what’s at stake. A healthy and effective Christian Scott could be a game-changer for a rotation that needs both upside and durability.
“Getting in games again and competing, getting outs,” Scott said when asked what he’s focused on this spring. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that.
Obviously staying healthy is the main goal. But other than that, just going out and competing, getting outs and helping us win games.”
That mindset - compete, stay healthy, help the team - is exactly what the Mets need from Scott right now. And if he keeps pitching the way he did against Soto, he won’t be under the radar for long.
“He’s gotta pitch. We gotta build him up,” Mendoza said.
“The fact that he’s already throwing two innings and up to 30-something pitches, it’s a good sign. We need this guy.
Our job is to keep him healthy and we’ll continue to build him up.”
So far, so good.