Burnes put up a -2.2 WAR at about the same age Sproat is now, putting up a -.6 at about the 1/3 point of his first year in this org. He also doenst have the advantage of workign with the staff year after year but is being pressed to learn on the job and the team needs to use him because of the injuries.
Given that, I think its reasonable to trust our eyes with the pitch movement and velocity, combined with his age. Patrick has been given the flexibility to work his issues out in the pen more carefully, but he has 2 years in age and several in the org on Sproat.
So, whether or not Sproat has a meaningful turnaround yet this year, im going to trust my eyes and that the staff has a reason to like him.