Tom Brennan: Matt Harvey and Brandon Sproat in the Minors

THE DARK KNIGHT MATT HARVEY

Matt Harvey was drafted 7th overall by your very own Mets in 2010, and first pitched (nicely) in his debut season in the minors in 2011, especially during the first half in the lower minors.

But he was less effective after being promoted to AA in the second half of 2011, and solid but not overpowering in 2012 in AAA before his 2012 midseason call up to the Mets. And rapid ascension to Dark Knight status.

In that AA / AAA stretch spanning 2011/12, he threw 170 innings, had a pedestrian ERA just under 4.00, and a somewhat uninspiring WHIP of 1.35.

Sproat's WHIP in his debut season before rocketing to AAA late in the season was a much better 0.95.  His AAA starts in 29 IP were up-and-down, but what a surge to even get to AAA in his rookie season. 

So, based on the fireballing Sproat's first year, what I can reasonably conclude is that Sproat: 

1) is ahead of Harvey's pace in terms of career acceleration, and 

2) also ran into upper minors headwinds (in Sproat's case, in AAA).

In summary?

I think we have another Dark Knight, in Sproat, arriving in Queens by June at the latest. Or, call him this instead:

The White Knight Brandon Sproat

SPROAT.

SP - future Mets starting pitcher, who will be:

ROAT - really outstanding and terrific.