Ask his former coaches, and they’ll tell you Brandon Sproat’s defining trait isn’t his blazing fastball or his strikeout stuff. It’s the pitcher’s ability to get back up again after struggles, only stronger.

Sproat’s journey, like many prospects on the road to the big leagues, was marked by obstacles. At Florida, he learned to stop chasing results and instead focus on what he could control. With the Mets organization, he learned how and when to use his best pitches after Triple-A struggles.

Overall, his quiet resilience has carried him from setbacks in college and the minors to his first big-league opportunity that will come Sunday. The 24-year-old will make his first career major-league start against the Cincinnati Reds , with the Mets essentially holding an audition for their pla

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