Syndergaard impresses during bullpen outing

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Noah Syndergaard was well aware of the crowd gathering behind him on Monday as he prepared to throw his first bullpen session of camp. Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon were there. General manager Sandy Alderson was there. Vice president of player development Paul DePodesta was there. Manager Terry Collins was there.

So it was no coincidence that Syndergaard, despite telling himself to stay calm, unleashed what Collins described as "97 miles per hour with a hook from hell."

"Really impressive," Collins said. "Coming in here with the headlines that he's had, and everybody's standing around, it's human nature to try to impress everybody -- and he did."

The Mets' top-ranked prospect according to MLB.com, Syndergaard is scheduled to begin this season at Triple-A Las Vegas, making his Major League debut sometime in the middle third of the season.

"It's a really cool feeling," Syndergaard said of having everyone watch his bullpen session. "I just tried not to let it get the best of me."