PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Christian Scott called this upcoming season his “rite of passage” as a major league pitcher for the Mets.

The 25-year-old right-hander’s campaign represents a cruel reality about the sport of baseball. A growing percentage of pitchers confront a year-long recovery from Tommy John surgery. Scott is just the latest example for the Mets.

After undergoing the procedure to repair a damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow on Sept. 18, 2024, Scott threw for the first time last week. Mets fans won’t see Scott on the mound any time soon, though, as the team will be deliberate in his recovery, keeping him out until 2026.

“Obviously I want to be out there. You’re a competitor, so obviously that sucks, but just taking it day by day,” Scott told NorthJersey.com this week. “It’s much easier said than done, obviously, to stay in the moment, stay present, especially when it feels monotonous, déjà vu at times, but the hardest part about it is staying in the moment, staying present. Just keep making your body feel as good as it possibly can and listening to it as well.”

Advice for Christian Scott during his recovery

The University of Florida product did not have to look very far to find sources of advice on the road back to the mound.

Initially, he asked former Mets starter Luis Severino, who underwent Tommy John as a member of the Yankees in 2020. Phillies top prospect Andrew Painter, Scott’s former teammate at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is returning from July 2023 surgery this season.

Inside the Mets clubhouse this spring, Drew Smith underwent his second Tommy John procedure last July. Adbert Alzolay had the surgery one month later than Smith. Max Kranick dealt with the same in June 2022 before returning late in 2023.

“It’s a long process,” Scott said of the advice he’s received. “Don’t try to step on the gas too, too much. Just take your light days light and you’ll feel good after that. Just be super, super mindful about the throwing program with the team. Don’t do anything crazy and just take it a day at a time.”

Promise pushed back

Scott had a promising rookie season derailed late last July when he suffered the sprained UCL. He had made his first nine professional starts for the Mets, posting a 4.56 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP in 47⅓ innings while going 0-3. He registered quality starts in three of his first four starts but received limited run support.

Scott’s first major league victory will have to wait.

Before the injury, Scott was viewed as a rotation piece moving forward after he won the club’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year award in 2023. He excelled in his growth from a two-pitch reliever in college and combined to post a 2.57 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 87⅔ innings across three levels between Single-A and Double-A that season before an initial elbow injury cut his campaign short.

In nine starts for Triple-A Syracuse last season, Scott was 3-0 with a 2.76 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 42⅓ innings. Now, he confronts an unfortunate gap in his growth.

“I feel like my body’s in a good spot, so I’m just taking it day by day,” Scott said. “A lot of what I’ve heard is just stay super in the moment, stay super present and keep stacking good days and good things will happen.”

Where is Christian Scott at in his recovery

Scott’s path back to the Mets rotation begins in a tedious place. He’ll spend roughly the next month and a half throwing from 60 feet. Right now, he’s not exceeding 65 mph in his soft toss.

The resumption of throwing represented a major checkpoint last week, and Scott is simply focused on keeping in a good headspace away from the field as he works to get back. He expects most of his recovery to be performed in Florida to begin 2025 with monthly trips expected for select home series at Citi Field.,

“Being consistent as I can throughout your life really,” Scott said. “Whether it’s sleep, what you eat, what’s your routine, what are you putting in your body, what you’re doing on a day-to-day basis. Taking care of my sleep, taking care of my nutrition, my diet. Just little things I can do throughout the time.”