MLB

Mets prospect Syndergaard set for next step

Noah Syndergaard has a good idea what it will take to get him into a Mets uniform next season.

Other than just maturity, the organization’s top pitching prospect understands he probably has to master another pitch if he’s going to follow in the footsteps of Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler and become the third stud right-hander in as many years to make the leap from the minors for the Mets.

“I’m very impressed with what I did; I think I got a lot better on the field,” the 21-year-old Syndergaard said Friday at Citi Field, where he was honored with a Sterling Award as the Mets’ top Double-A player. “My fastball command was pretty good for the most part, and I improved my curveball drastically, but one thing I need to work on is developing the changeup.”

To that end, Syndergaard expects to seek out Dillon Gee this winter for pointers on the changeup. Both pitchers reside in the Dallas area during the offseason and met last winter while Syndergaard was throwing a bullpen session at the University of Texas-Arlington.

Syndergaard, who arrived last December as part of the trade that sent R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays and brought Travis d’Arnaud to the Mets, went 6-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 69 strikeouts over 54 innings at Double-A Binghamton. He began the season at Single-A St. Lucie, where he was 3-3 with a 3.11 ERA in 12 starts.

Rafael Montero, who was honored with a Sterling Award as the organization’s top Triple-A player, faced Syndergaard in the 2013 Futures Game two days before the All-Star Game at Citi Field.

Mets manager Terry Collins said he doesn’t expect Syndergaard or the 22-year-old Montero to compete for rotation spots next year in spring training, but both could be factors as the season progresses.

“With Syndergaard and Montero, certainly they have huge upsides,” Collins said before the Mets’ 4-2 loss to the Brewers. “The future is coming, and it’s going to be here fast, and it’s going to start with pitching.

“That’s why I continue to say, with the excitement around some of the things Juan Lagares has done, the excitement around having Travis d’Arnaud here, the excitement with Wheeler, the excitement with Harv, we’ve got two other guys, maybe three other guys coming.”

The other names on that list include right-hander Jacob deGrom and lefty reliever Jack Leathersich.

“They are there, now we have to get them better,” Collins said. “We’ve got to refine them to get ready to pitch here. But the future is bright, there’s light at the end of the tunnel and it starts with that pitching.”

Montero, who finished 12-7 with a 2.78 ERA in 27 starts between Binghamton and Las Vegas, said it wasn’t shocking he spent the entire season in the minors.

“I’m not surprised — the time wasn’t right yet,” said Montero, who doesn’t have to be added to the 40-man roster until December. “I feel prepared, but you really have to wait until the team and God decide the time is right.”

A night after getting beaned by Johnny Hellweg — but testing negative for a concussion — David Wright was absent from the lineup with a sore right thumb. Wright jammed the thumb when he hit the ground following the beaning and was advised by team medical personnel not to play Friday. Wright will be reevaluated Saturday.