McLean Picks Up Where He Left Off in Grapefruit League Debut
If Team USA needed one more look at Nolan McLean before finalizing its World Baseball Classic staff, it got it in 56 pitches. McLean allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out six, retiring 12 of the 14 hitters he faced. During one stretch, he set down nine in a row.
The most glaring takeaway from the Statcast data was a significant jump in velocity. McLean’s sinker, which averaged 94.4 mph last season, sat at 96.3 mph on Thursday. He topped out at 97.9 mph, showing zero signs of early-season rust. More notable was the shape of everything around it. His curveball averaged 83 mph, roughly three ticks harder than last year, with a tighter finish. He froze hitters, including Carlos Correa, who whiffed at one for strike three.
His secondary offerings appeared to be equally sharp. He dialed his changeup to 90 mph, four ticks higher than his 2025 average of 86 mph. He also utilized a 93-mph cutter to bridge the gap between his high-velocity fastballs and his breaking stuff.
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
The Mets gave him room to work, building a 5-0 lead by the fourth on home runs from Tyrone Taylor and Marcus Semien. It was still an exhibition, but Houston’s lineup included several projected Opening Day starters, and McLean attacked them instead of pitching around contact.
This performance builds on a stellar 2025 debut. Last season, McLean posted a 2.06 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP over eight major league starts. He recorded 57 strikeouts in just 48 innings, establishing himself as a fixture in the rotation.
McLean joins Team USA this weekend for the World Baseball Classic, where he’s expected to work in a multi-inning role with a cap around 60 pitches per appearance, McLean said. He essentially rehearsed that workload against Houston, maintaining upper-90s velocity into his final frame.
McLean was asked about how he managed his offseason in an interview with SNY.
“I didn’t really shut down for long,” he said. “I just felt so good after last season…kept throwing, and it allowed me to ramp up a little faster.”
He remains rookie-eligible in 2026, a quirk that keeps him in award conversations. He’s an early top pick for NL Rookie of the Year, and if he does win the award, the Mets would receive an additional draft pick through MLB’s Prospect Promotion Incentive program.
All told, it was an impressive first look at the Mets’ rookie. McLean looked sharper and stronger in his first game back as he continues to prove that last season’s performance wasn’t a fluke.
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