When Should We Expect Syndergaard?

The USA Today ran a nice article about Noah Syndergaard, the super sized right handed pitching prospect that has been turning heads in Port St. Lucie at Mets Spring Training. In it, they noted the fanfare and excitement that has accompanied his throwing sessions...

Fans roam the Mets' training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla., like so many other spring sites, but they don't get close to the real sideshow.

The mounds pitchers use for the bullpen sessions are well beyond the sight of fans. Isolated but, when the phenom of the year pitches, not deserted.

When Syndergaard threw for the first time this spring there were – besides manager Terry Collins, the usual coaches and dozens of reporters, photographers and camera operators – owner Fred Wilpon, two of his grandchildren plus his son, Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon; general manager Sandy Alderson and assistant GM Paul DePodesta.

Photo by Michael Baron

It went on to detail how he pitched, including a high 90's fastball, improved changeup from last year, and an impressive curveball. With all of this promise and all these expectations, the next question is natural: when will he make his way to Queens?

Daisuke Matsuzaka, John Lannan, and Jenrry Mejia are all in competition for the fifth spot. Mejia has the most upside, the other two would be basically placeholders. So at what point should we expect Syndergaard to get the call?

If history is any indicator, a June/July debut, most likely after the Super Two date has passed and his eligibility for arbitration will be pushed back another year, providing the Mets with another year of extremely cheap team control. If the reports are true, however, it sounds like he'll be worth the wait.