Mets' Nolan McLean: Impressive again in second win
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McLean (2-0) earned the win Friday against Atlanta, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks in seven innings. He struck out seven.
After impressing with 5.1 scoreless innings in his major-league debut, McLean shined once again Friday against a dangerous Atlanta lineup. The rookie right-hander fanned at least seven in his second straight outing, and he eliminated the walks altogether after handing out four free passes in his first big-league appearance. McLean has now yielded just two runs over his first 12.1 innings to go with a 15:4 K:BB, though he's set to draw a tough test at home versus the first-place Phillies next week.
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Mets' Nolan McLean: Wins in first career start
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McLean earned the win in his MLB debut in Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Mariners, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out eight over 5.1 scoreless innings.
McLean's first big-league start went about as well as the Mets could have hoped, as he fired 55 of 91 pitches for strikes while generating 11 whiffs and limiting the Mariners to four hard-hit balls. Per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, McLean joined Matt Harvey as the only Mets pitchers to record eight strikeouts and a win in a scoreless debut. According to Ben Krimmel of SNY.tv, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza all but confirmed that the 24-year-old righty will get another turn through the rotation, which will likely fall next weekend in Atlanta. McLean's standing in the rotation beyond that may hinge on how he performs, as Tylor Megill (elbow) is in the midst of a rehab assignment and could displace McLean as the club's fifth starter once he's activated from the injured list.
Mets' Nolan McLean: Officially called up for start
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The Mets selected McLean's contract from Triple-A Syracuse ahead of Saturday's game against Seattle.
As expected, McLean will make his MLB debut Saturday, toeing the rubber as the Mets' starting pitcher. The 23-year-old has logged a 2.99 ERA and 97:38 K:BB in 87.1 innings for Syracuse this season. He's posted a 1.96 ERA and 26:9 K:BB across 23 innings spanning his last four appearances.
Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed Wednesday that McLean will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to start Saturday's game against the Mariners at Citi Field, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
One of the Mets' top pitching prospects, the 24-year-old McLean has delivered a 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 127:50 K:BB across 113.2 innings between Syracuse and Double-A Binghamton this season. The Mets will likely wait until Saturday before formally adding McLean to the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster. With Frankie Montas moving to the bullpen and Paul Blackburn (shoulder) also expected to work in long relief following his activation from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, McLean could be in line for multiple turns through the rotation until the Mets get Tylor Megill (elbow) back from the IL.
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Mets' Nolan McLean: Set for MLB debut Saturday
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The Mets are expected to call up McLean from Triple-A Syracuse to start Saturday's game against the Mariners, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.
With manager Carlos Mendoza permanently moving Frankie Montas to the bullpen, the Mets will need to break in a new fifth starter this weekend. Though veteran righty Paul Blackburn (shoulder) has been building up a starter during his rehab assignment and looks ready to come off the 15-day injured list, the Mets instead appear inclined to give the 24-year-old McLean his first look in the big leagues. The right-hander has made 21 appearances (18 starts) between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A this season, registering a 2.45 ERA and 1.13 WHIP while racking up 127 punchouts over 113.2 innings. The Mets could get Tylor Megill (elbow) back from the injured list by the end of the month to challenge him for a rotation spot, but if McLean impresses in his initial taste of the majors, he could end up holding down a starting role for the rest of the season.
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Mets' Nolan McLean: Could make MLB debut in bullpen
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McLean could be an option for the Mets' bullpen if the team doesn't trade for any high-leverage relievers at the deadline, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
General manager David Stearns has gone this route in the past during his time in Milwaukee, breaking in future aces Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta in relief roles. The Mets are actively working to acquire established bullpen arms however, and using a prospect like McLean in high-leverage spots during a playoff push would appear to be Plan B. McLean is having a breakout campaign in the high minors, posting a combined 2.78 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 101:41 K:BB over 90.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A.
McLean struck out 10 while giving up three hits and three walks over six scoreless innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.
It's the second straight start with double-digit strikeouts for the 23-year-old right-hander, who is making a loud statement that he's ready for the next challenge. Over his last nine Triple-A outings, McLean has delivered a 2.59 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 54:20 K:BB through 48.2 innings. The Mets' big-league rotation is about to get significant reinforcements with both Kodai Senga (hamstring) and Sean Manaea (elbow/oblique) set to come off the IL right before the All-Star break, but McLean could make his MLB debut in the second half if injuries create further opportunities.
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Mets' Nolan McLean: Dazzles in Triple-A debut
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McLean threw seven scoreless innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, giving up seven hits without walking a batter and striking out seven.
Making his first start for Syracuse since a promotion from Double-A, McLean put together his best performance of the season, firing 57 of 78 pitches for strikes and only allowing one runner to even get past second base. The 23-year-old right-hander isn't yet on the 40-man roster, but if he continues to deliver these kinds of results, a big-league debut in 2025 can't be ruled out. Over six starts between Double-A and Triple-A, McLean has a 1.08 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 37:12 K:BB through 33.1 innings, and he has yet to serve up a homer.
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Mets' Nolan McLean: Moving up to Triple-A
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The Mets promoted McLean from Double-A Binghamton to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, John Sparaco of SI.com reports.
Selected as a two-way player with the No. 91 overall pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, McLean has been focusing exclusively on pitching since the middle of the 2024 season. He's solidified himself as one of the top prospects in the Mets organization after getting hot a hot start to the 2025 campaign, having compiled a 1.37 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 30:12 K:BB over 26.1 innings with Binghamton. McLean will be part of a talented Syracuse rotation that also includes buzzy prospects in Brandon Sproat and Blade Tidwell, the latter of whom made his MLB debut Sunday before being optioned back to Triple-A.
McLean will focus on pitching going forward, SNY Mets reports.
He cited the physical toll that doing both hitting and pitching was taking on his body, but his 52.2-percent strikeout rate in 69 plate appearances as a hitter at Double-A likely also factored into the decision. McLean is a very exciting pitching prospect, sporting one of the best high-spin sliders in the minors and a mid-90s fastball with good movement. There's perhaps another level of upside with McLean on the mound now, considering he had been trying to be a two-way player up until this point and can just focus on pitching going forward. The 6-foot-2 righty has been unlucky at Double-A (.358 BABIP, 21.1 HR/FB), leading to a 5.35 ERA and 1.55 WHIP, but his 3.86 xFIP hints that better days are ahead.
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Mets' Nolan McLean: Thriving on mound
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McLean has posted a 2.84 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB through 19 innings for High-A Brooklyn.
The 22-year-old right-hander hasn't allowed a run in four of his five outings to begin the year, with only a six-run stumble against Jersey Shore on April 17 marring his numbers. McLean is still being used as a two-way player and is DHing when he doesn't pitch, but he's been less impressive as a hitter, batting .220 (9-for-41) with a 3:22 BB:K -- although eight of his nine hits have gone for extra bases, including three homers. A third-round pick in 2023 out of Oklahoma State, McLean may have to give up hitting as he moves up the ladder but may have a bright future on the mound.
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