Mets Call Up Pitching Prospect Nolan McLean to Strengthen Struggling Rotation

By Zamal Uddin | August 14, 2025

New York, NY – The New York Mets are set to promote pitching prospect Nolan McLean for his Major League Baseball debut on Saturday, as the team looks to reinforce a rotation that has been inconsistent in recent weeks.

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Nolan McLean’s Minor League Performance

McLean, 24, has impressed in the 2025 Minor League season, posting an 8-5 record with a 2.45 ERA across 21 appearances (18 starts) between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse.

• Strikeouts: 127 batters in 113 2/3 innings

• Pitch arsenal: Mid-to-high 90s fastball, plus a mid-80s sweeper, along with three other effective pitches

• Durability: Logged at least six innings in nine starts this season, reaching 90+ pitches in seven outings

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Manager Carlos Mendoza on McLean’s Call-Up

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed confidence in the young right-hander:

“We feel good with him going out there and giving us a chance to win baseball games at the big league level. Credit to him for putting himself in this position.”

Veteran swingman Paul Blackburn, recently recalled from Triple-A, praised McLean’s mound presence and maturity, recalling his composed Triple-A debut earlier this year.

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Replacing Frankie Montas in the Rotation

McLean will take the spot of Frankie Montas, who was moved to the bullpen after posting a 6.38 ERA in eight games (seven starts). The Mets rotation currently ranks 6th in MLB with a 3.70 ERA, but has thrown just 591 innings — the fourth-fewest in the league.

Since June 7, David Peterson has been the only starter to pitch at least six innings in a game for New York.

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First of the 2023 Draft Class to Reach MLB

A former Oklahoma State star, McLean becomes the first player from the Mets’ 2023 MLB Draft class to reach the majors. His promotion signals the Mets’ continued focus on developing homegrown pitching talent to sustain long-term success.

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What Mets Fans Can Expect

With McLean’s strong strikeout numbers, pitch variety, and stamina, the Mets hope he can stabilize the rotation and give the team more depth heading into the late-season playoff push.

“The expectation whenever we call up a prospect is to help us win baseball games,” Mendoza said.

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