LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — If Noah Syndergaard had jitters facing major league hitters for the first time, they didn’t show over 30 pitches against the Braves on Monday.
Over two shutout innings, the Mets’ top pitching prospect allowed one hit and struck out two on a sun-splashed day at the Disney complex, where the Mets rallied for a 6-2 exhibition victory.
The Braves were impressed. After facing the rookie fireballer, Justin Upton was asked how Syndergaard compares to the top pitching prospects who have arrived to the Mets in recent years, Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler.
“Harvey is Harvey, but [Syndergaard] and Wheeler are definitely a very close second,” Upton said. “They both throw the ball downhill with some velocity and they’ve got plus second pitches, so at the end of the day, they have all got great stuff.”
Syndergaard got what he expected: An aggressive Braves lineup hungry for strikes.
“I would throw a pitch and they would swing at every first-pitch strike there was,” Syndergaard said. “That’s a little different. I felt like I pounded the zone well and then changed speeds and kept them off balance pretty well.”
It came after the 21-year-old Syndergaard wowed Mets officials with his raw heat and “hook from hell” curveball during an intrasquad scrimmage last week.
Syndergaard got Braves leadoff hitter Jason Heyward to swing and miss at a 98 mph heater for strike three, highlighting a 12-pitch first inning for the right-hander.
Syndergaard surrendered a one-out single to Ryan Doumit in the second inning, but retired Tommy La Stella and Mark Hamilton to end his afternoon of work.
“Today was a big test,” manager Terry Collins said. “You get a leadoff hitter [Heyward] and he’s as big as you are, getting in the batter’s box to start the game. You’re not in Kansas anymore. You’re where the big guys play, and I thought he handled it great.”
The Mets will likely assign Syndergaard to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the season and look to promote him in June or July, following a script they used the last two years with Harvey and Wheeler.
Syndergaard is expected to be capped around 145-150 innings total for the season, meaning he could have numerous abbreviated starts at Las Vegas.
Is Syndergaard major league ready?
“I don’t think that’s really up to me,” he said.
In last week’s intrasquad scrimmage, Syndergaard was hesitant to pitch inside because he didn’t want to risk drilling teammates. But that wasn’t an issue against the Braves.
“I don’t have to see [the Braves] in the clubhouse, so I’m a little more comfortable coming inside to batters this outing,” Syndergaard said. “I’m not really afraid to hit the guy.”
Syndergaard said Monday’s outing was part of his learning curve.
“I feel like what I learned today was I’ve seen big league pitchers and I think the difference that separates big league and minor league pitchers is being able to execute your pitches and become pretty consistent in executing your pitches, as well,” Syndergaard said.
Syndergaard’s 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame only adds to the problems he presents for hitters, according to Braves outfielder B.J. Upton.
“When he really starts to put it together, he’s got some good guys on that team over there that I’m sure he’s listening to,” Upton said. “And once he figures it out, he’s going to be something to deal with.”