The Mets plan for one-time top prospect Matt Allan after first outing since 2019

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.A one-time top Mets pitching prospect is finally back on the mound, as Matt Allan made his first appearance in an actual game on Sunday since 2019. The right-hander tossed 2 ²/₃ innings and struck out five for Low-A St.

Lucie after missing time due to multiple elbow procedures — including Tommy John surgery in 2021 and a follow-up in 2023. The 2019 third-round pick, who was a sought-after prospect coming out of Sanford High School in Florida in 2019, turns 24 this month, but has yet to pitch in more than six games or toss more than 10 ¹/₃ innings in the pros. “So he threw [Sunday] night,” Stearns said.“Let’s get to the next one.

And after that, let’s get to the next one.What I will say is what he is doing right now is really impressive and he’s demonstrating why he was so sought after at the draft and why he has kept pushing so hard for the last five years to get back to this point.” For an organization that has had a hard time developing good major league starters lately, they could use Allan fulfilling expectations, as they wait for Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean, who could both be factors this season. Given Allan’s injury history, his future is even more difficult to predict. “I don’t think we’re going to put too many ceilings on him,” Stearns said.

“I think as he performs, we’ll move him [up], but we also need to ensure that he stays healthy and he’s able to take the ball.… I think given everything Matt’s gone through, every time he takes the ball right now, we’re just happy.

And he deserves to be happy and he deserves to enjoy it.” Stearns said Mark Vientos is “off to a rough start.He’s probably chasing a little bit more than he’d like to.” Vientos entered Monday 4-for-34 with no homers after his breakout season a year ago, although he’s swinging at fewer p...