Nolan McLean: 3 things to know about NY Mets' top pitching prospect as he makes MLB debut

The New York Mets are turning to their top pitching prospect to try and mend their issues in the starting rotation.

Nolan McLean, the club's No. 3 overall prospect and top young arm, is making Saturday's start against the Seattle Mariners at Citi Field.

McLean's major-league debut will come after the Mets shifted Frankie Montas to the bullpen following the right-hander's struggles in eight appearances since returning from a lat strain.

For McLean, the 24-year-old right-hander's first appearance on the mound will be one of the club's most anticipated pitching debuts since Christian Scott made his first start for the Mets last May.

"It's just about how he carries himself, how he deals with adversity, his ability to navigate lineups, the way he fields his position, controls the running game," manager Carlos Mendoza said earlier this week.

"There's a lot to like when you're talking to a manager and the people that have seen outing after outing that you probably don't see with the numbers and what the computer will tell you."

Here are three things to know about McLean with his Mets debut coming Saturday in the 4:10 p.m. game:

Mets' Nolan McLean made his biggest leap this season

After appearing in just eight games for rookie ball and Single A in 2023, McLean began to make his move in 2024 when he reached Double-A Binghamton.

He posted a 2-8 record with a 4.19 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 80 strikeouts across 81⅔ innings with the Rumble Ponies.

"I remember Andy Green last year telling me, 'I wouldn't be surprised if this kid helped you at the end of this year out of the bullpen,' and this was back last year when he was still hitting," Mendoza said. "Those words stuck out. I was like, 'Really, Andy?' He was that high on him."

The right-hander has made his biggest leap this season.

McLean opened the 2025 season with a 3-1 record, 1.37 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 26⅓ innings and was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse on May 6. The rise has continued there, with McLean going 5-4 with a 2.78 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 97 strikeouts in 87⅓ innings for Syracuse this season.

Nolan McLean started out as a two-sport player

McLean was a touted prospect for his versatility in a multitude of ways.

The North Carolina native was recruited by Oklahoma State for both baseball and football. He was relief pitcher, third baseman and outfielder entering college, along with a three-star quarterback recruit, but opted to stick with baseball.

With OSU, McLean earned the nickname "Cowboy Ohtani" for his prowess with the bat and on the mound.

As a sophomore for the Cowboys, he finished with 19 home runs and 47 RBIs, while batting .500. On the mound, he struck out 39 batters across 25⅓ innings. After being drafted by the Orioles in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft, he went unsigned due to a concern with an MRI.

McLean landed with the Mets one year later in the same round after posting a 3.30 ERA across 30 innings. .

While a two-way player in the minor leagues, McLean posted a .565 OPS in 35 games with Double-A Binghamton last season, opting to focus on the mound beginning in late June.

Nolan McLean scouting report: What he brings to Mets

While McLean boasts a pair of fastballs (four-seam and sinker) that linger in the mid-90s, the prospect's most exciting pitch is his sweeper, which registers in the mid-80s.

According to MLB Pipeline, McLean's sweeper grades out as his best pitch as a 70 out of 80.

McLean will also mix in a changeup and curveball to diversify his offering.

"There's a lot to like, man," Mendoza said. "We all see the pitches. Everyone talks about the sweeper, the mid-90s, the sinker and all that, but it's just the way he carries himself."

The one area that could benefit from some improvement is McLean's walk rate. He has issued 3.9 walks per nine innings or 10.6 percent walk rate in Triple A this season.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Nolan McLean: What to know about Mets' pitching prospect making MLB debut