Nolan McLean: Wiki| Prospect ranking| Pitching prospect| Fantasy

Introduction

Nolan James McLean is emerging as one of the most intriguing and rapidly ascending pitching talents in the New York Mets organization. His transition from a two-way star in college to a pitching-only specialist has generated buzz among prospect analysts, fantasy players, and Mets fans alike. This article explores McLean’s background, prospect status, current trajectory, and fantasy implications—packed with SEO-friendly keywords and compelling insights.

Early Life & Amateur Career

• Full Name: Nolan James McLean

• Born: July 24, 2001, in Willow Spring, North Carolina, U.S.

• High School: Garner Magnet High School, NC. A standout two-sport athlete, he excelled in both baseball and football and committed to play both at Oklahoma State University.

At Oklahoma State, McLean’s early two-way contributions included a .263 batting average with eight home runs and 20 RBIs, alongside pitching in relief (0–1, 18.00 ERA) during his freshman year. He redshirted football, then in his sophomore year, hit .285 with 19 home runs and struck out 39 batters as a pitcher. Later, although drafted by the Orioles in 2022, he returned to OSU and continued to excel both on the mound and at the plate in his junior year (nine home runs, 3.30 ERA in 14 pitching appearances).

Draft & Professional Signing

In 2023, the New York Mets selected McLean in the third round (91st overall) of the MLB Draft as a two-way player. He signed with the Mets for the full slot value of $747,600 on July 15, 2023

Minor League Development & Transition

• Two-Way Beginnings: McLean initially continued as a two-way prospect in the Mets’ system. With High-A Brooklyn, he posted a 2.57 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in seven starts, and offensively hit .224 with five home runs. Over his final five starts, he was 2-1 with a dominant 0.82 ERA.

• Focus on Pitching: Over time, the Mets decided to pivot McLean exclusively toward pitching to accelerate his development path. His hitting lagged behind, making pitching his clear strength.

2025: A Breakout Season

Double-A & Triple-A Dominance

McLean’s 2025 campaign has been nothing short of spectacular:

• Double-A (Binghamton): In his five starts, McLean posted a pristine 1.37 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and 30 strikeouts in 26⅓ innings, without allowing a home run. He also recorded a shutout-style outing in his Triple-A debut—seven innings, seven strikeouts, no walks.

• Triple-A (Syracuse): Across 16 games (13 starts), he delivered a 2.78 ERA, striking out 97 in 87⅓ innings. Overall in 2025 through 21 MiLB games, his combined ERA was 2.45 with 127 strikeouts across 113.2 innings and a 1.13 WHIP.

• Top Prospect Status: By mid-season, McLean broke into the MLB Top 100 Prospects list at No. 100, boosted by a 2.56 ERA in 38⅔ Triple-A innings with a .193 opponents’ average. MLB.com ranks him as the Mets’ No. 1 pitching prospect and the No. 3 overall prospect in the organization.

Callup to the Majors

With veteran Frankie Montas moved to the bullpen due to subpar performance (over a 6.38 ERA in recent outings), the Mets decided to promote McLean to the major league roster for his MLB debut on Saturday against the Mariners. This move reflects both his readiness and the Mets’ urgent need for starting pitching.

Prospect Rankings & Analysis

Scouting Insights

Early scouting in college highlighted his raw power, two-way ability, and fastball touching the upper 90s Baseball America. The development of a sweeper has become a key pitch in his arsenal, making him highly deceptive and effective at Triple-A.

Though some reports note struggles against left-handed hitters and initial roster limitations—like not yet being on the 40-man roster earlier in the season—his performance has largely overshadowed those concerns.

Fantasy Baseball Outlook

For fantasy managers, McLean’s profile offers major upside:

• High Strikeout Rates: Nearly 10 K/9 in 2025 Triple-A and a dominant strikeout rate in Double-A.

• ERA & WHIP: Strong minor league performance with sub-3.00 ERA and WHIP around 1.1

• Immediate MLB Need: With Montas struggling, McLean’s call-up is timely, increasing his fantasy value immediately.

• Ceiling: His pitch mix (including sweeper) and arm talent suggest high upside if he maintains health and control.

Valuable quote from Reddit fans:

“McLean is nasty, worth a pickup.”

Conclusion 

Nolan McLean exemplifies the ideal pitching prospect for the New York Mets—a former two-way athlete turned dominant pitcher with high velocity, a sharp sweeper, and elite strikeout ability. As a fantasy breakout candidate, his MLB debut this weekend marks the beginning of a new chapter.