Mets’ Scott Reframes Winning Mentality While Rehabbing Elbow

Christian Scott seemed like an easy addition to the New York Mets’ rotating cast of starters. After finishing his collegiate career at UF, Scott climbed through the farm system in three years, starting three games in the major leagues in 2024 for the Queens, New York, organization before it all went wrong. Or, at least, the worst-case scenario happened for an up-and-coming pitcher: his elbow required Tommy John surgery.

But as he works back from rehab, he’s developed a steady frame of mind, turning pre-start anxiety into a positive feeling, one he looks forward to on the mound. Though the physical stress and mental challenges can feel insurmountable, the small victories in the pursuit of Scott’s first Major League Baseball win propel him forward.

Sports@CJC spoke with Scott, who discussed his time in Gainesville, his relationship with former Gators pitcher Brandon Sproat and how he developed a day-to-day mentality.

1. In February, you were talking about how in March you’re going to start throwing from the mound. Is that happening right now?

Scott: In March, I started throwing, not off, but I just started throwing regular. The first throws I made were in March. After usually, it takes about five to six months to even make throws at that point. At the rate that we’re on, I’ll be on the mound in about July. So just right now, just throwing, building up arm strength, and then once, once July hits, to be able to get off the mound.

2. What do you think the hardest part has been about being injured? Is it the mental? Is it the physical?

Scott: I’d say it’s a little bit of both. There’s days where physically you’re struggling, and there’s days where mentally you’re struggling, days with sometimes there’s both. So, it’s really about just appreciating the day to day, accepting the day to day.

And it’s this part of our job, right? We all sign up for this or injuries. Injuries like this happen to pitchers all around the world. You take that with a grain of salt, too. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. Physically, I felt great through this whole process, which I’m grateful for, which obviously that’s helped me mentally to just be able to understand, “Hey, I’m feeling much stronger, much better.”

3. What do you remember most about playing for the Gators?

Scott: I remember the team camaraderie. We were really close as a team. You know, the school part was fun. It was good. I was in ’19 to ’21, so we had COVID right in the middle of that… but just being there, having your team there, working out together. The things that I remember is working out together as a group at 6 a.m. when everybody’s drunk and hungover from the night. Everybody’s trying to push together. Those are the fun moments with the guys: you’re sweating there, you look to your buddy, and he [was] throwing up two hours earlier, and now he’s working out.

4. Can you describe your transition from collegiate to professional baseball?

Scott: One thing that I didn’t even realize is, like, 60% to 70% of these players in pro-ball are Latin players. When you’re in college, you don’t even think about the Latin side, the Dominican Republic, things like that. You’re just playing guys in America, so you have no idea. Then you get drafted, and all of a sudden, this guy from Venezuela is throwing 102 miles an hour. And you’re like, “I didn’t know that it was possible.”

It almost takes you down to a humbling experience to where these 18-, 19-year-old kids from different countries are out here. They’d be the best players on these college teams, but people don’t know about that ’till you get there.

5. What was the moment like when you first knew that you were going to play in MLB?

Scott: Super exciting. It takes you back. You just want to like celebrate with your family and friends because they’re the ones that have been there since you were like 6 or 7. They pour so much time, effort, energy into you. A lot of the coaches, teammates that you know you just want to, you want to give it back to them and really share that moment with them.

The best part about that for me was calling my family. Talking to talking to them like, “Our dreams here, we’re doing it.”

Also to be able to do that my home state was a lot of fun. They didn’t have to pay for a lot of plane tickets. A lot of people drove up there, so it was cool to be able to have that and spend that with all my family and friends.

6. Do you have any particular goal this season? Is it just like recovery, or is there something more?

Scott: I’m not one to set goals. I’m not really like a goal kind of guy. For me, I try to stay in the day-to-day as much as I possibly can. I’m gonna attack the day and put everything I can to that day. Whatever happens the next day is for the next day. For me, I just wanted to play baseball. That’s all I want to do. I just wanted to pitch. I just wanted to do to go out there and have fun and pitch and compete. And I love that part of it. MLB was a distant thought, just a memory. But I just love to do it. Love to compete.

7. Did you always have that? Or was there a pitcher or a coach that helped you develop that mentality?

Scott: Funny enough actually, in college, I was the exact opposite, where, like [with] Sully [Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan] if you didn’t pitch well, you weren’t gonna play. He’s pretty tough coach to play for. If you don’t pitch good, you’re not gonna play at all. So, every time you go out there, you’re like, “Oh, I have to pitch. You gotta have to pitch good, or I can’t play.” You walk in there with that fear going in: I don’t want to fail.

And then I got to pro-ball, and it opened up to me where I had a lot of pre-start anxiety. I wouldn’t be able to eat and stuff like that. So, I sat down listen to a couple podcasts, and I just really just reframed the way that I was able to think about those butterflies.

For me, I’m only gonna be able to have that when I play. So, I’d be able to accept that and enjoy that moment. For me [now] when I get butterflies, I look forward to that. It’s something I’m super excited about. It’s not like something I’m running from. I’m running to it, towards it. The mental part of it, it’s tough, because you really take it day by day. But at the same time, it’s really as simple as just being as present as you possibly can.

And. I’m a Christian too. I have faith, faith in Jesus and God. So, it’s for me, I put all my faith into that, and I’m going to control what I can.

8. What has it been like to see Brandon Sproat work so quickly through the minor league system?

Scott: It’s been awesome. Brand’s a great competitor. Even in his time at Florida, just go out there. He took the ball every time, so we want to give it to him. It’s really cool be able to see him have the success going up the Minor Leagues.

And be able to bounce ideas off each other. Really just bounce outings off each other and just see, like, “Hey, what do you feel on your slider? What do you feel on your change-up?”

Just little conversations we’re able to have. He’s got really, really good stuff, and be able to just bounce ideas off of – even with other guys too, not just Brandon, but even [Blade] Tidwell, another SEC guy who went to Tennessee – just guys that you’re familiar with, too. That makes it a lot easier.

9. Were you talking with Brandon or any of the former Gators while the Florida men’s basketball championship run was occurring?

Scott: Pete Alonso, we were chatting a little bit … Danny Young. We were just kind of like, “You think they could do it? We’ve never seen us do this.” You’re just kind of just watching, and wishful thinking. St John’s was in our bracket, and we’re in New York, they’re in Queens, too. So, we had a little bet going on if they made it.

More CJCxARZ Spring Training Coverage:
* More Than Words: Inside the Important, Unique — And Sometimes Random — Role of MLB Translators
* Hurston Waldrep Working on Getting Back to ‘The Show’ in Atlanta
* Rangers Star Langford Quietly Making Major Noise With Bat in Year 2
* Man vs. Machine: MLB’s Automated Ball-Strike Spring Experiment Shows Game’s Evolution

Category: Braves, Gators in the Pros
Tagged: Brandon Sproat Christian Scott Kevin O'Sullivan Mets MLB MLB Spring Training New York New York Mets Pete Alonso Spring Training