MINNEAPOLIS — Noah Syndergaard has a new look. He now wears a Mohawk. He also has more command of his fastball. Appearing in his second straight Futures Game on Sunday, the Mets' biggest prospect has big plans.
Rightfully so.
No, he's not figuring on making it three Futures Games in a row.
"I hope not,'' Syndergaard said with a smile at Target Field. "Hopefully, next year I will be in the [major league] All-Star Game. This isn't bad, but it's not where I want to be.''
That would be the 2015 All-Star Game in Cincinnati. Yes, there is a little Matt Harvey in the Mets' Super Prospect, and that's a great thing.
"I was hoping that I would be up [in the majors] by now,'' Syndergaard admitted, saying he got caught up a bit in all the prospect talk, "but I'm enjoying my time [in Las Vegas]. When the Mets feel like I'm ready, then hopefully I get that call.''
Syndergaard is hoping that there will be "a playoff push'' for the Mets, who head into the break winners of eight of 10.
"I'm still only 21 years old, I still got time,'' he said, "I'm just hoping I get up there pretty quickly and contribute to some wins, like a playoff push.''
You have to like everything about Syndergaard, from his approach to his ability to his growing maturity.
Syndergaard came on in the ninth inning to earn the save in the USA's 3-2 win over the World team with his mom and dad in the stands. The right-hander worked a one-hit ninth, striking out one and showing an explosive fastball and tremendous changeup.
"I really like Syndergaard, he's wonderful," USA manager and former Twins skipper Tom Kelly told The Post. "We're still arguing whether that one pitch is a slider or a changeup. He has one of those electric fastballs that look like it gains speed at the end. I know there are a lot of people who really like him — as they should. He looks like the real deal.''
Pitching the ninth, admitted Syndergaard, "was a lot of pressure.'' He started the 2013 Futures Game at Citi Field.
Syndergaard had some setbacks this season with a bruised left shoulder and strained right elbow, but is completely healthy now.
As for that Mohawk, Syndergaard got it two weeks ago.
"My mom hates it," he said. "My girlfriend hates it, but I like it. It's different."
He said he does not worry about the Mets having too many young pitching stars or what the future holds.
"I try to stay off Twitter as much as possible,'' Syndergaard said. "I don't pay attention to what people say.''
The Mets should not break up the Young Guns, Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jacob deGrom and Syndergaard. If the Harvey and Masahiro Tanaka elbow injuries have taught us anything, it's that you can never have too many young pitchers.
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson knows that.
Syndergaard knows what he has to do to get better.
"Sometimes I get a little too fastball-oriented,'' Syndergaard said.
That's OK, noted fellow Mets prospect and USA teammate, catcher Kevin Plawecki.
"I caught him in his last start and he threw a hell of a game in Albuquerque [seven innings, one run, eight strikeouts, no walks]," Plawecki said. "If he can throw the ball like that every time, he's in for a lot of success.
"We utilized his fastball a whole lot more in his last start."
Command that explosive 95-100 mph fastball and command your career.
There have been times, Syndergaard said, when "I just started throwing instead of pitching.''
That's all part of the growing process.
"I'm really focusing on becoming more of a pitcher than a thrower,'' he said.
That has to be music to Alderson's ears.
"I don't want to be predictable,'' said Syndergaard, who has thrown 79 ²/₃ innings this season. "I basically make sure I use all my pitches.''
Use all your pitches and focus on commanding the fastball. Do that and great things will happen.
Maybe even an All-Star Game in 2015.
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