Nolan McLean Stats & Scouting Report

AB	146
AVG	.185
OBP	.281
SLG	.432
HR	9

Full name Nolan James McLean
Born 07/24/2001 in Willow Spring, NC
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 214 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Oklahoma State
Drafted in the 3rd round (91st overall) by the New York Mets in 2023 (signed for $747,600).

View Draft Report

School: Oklahoma State Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Orioles ’22 (3)
Age At Draft: 22
BA Grade:40/High
Tools:Hit: 30. Power: 55. Run: 40. Field: 45. Arm: 60.

McLean ranked as the No. 135 prospect on the 2022 BA 500 as a two-way player with huge raw power and a big fastball that got into the upper 90s. He was one of three players to be selected among the top 10 rounds and not sign, and instead of inking a deal with the Orioles as a third-rounder, he went back to school where he once again served as a relief pitcher and outfielder. McLean hit .250/.379/.532 with nine home runs, six doubles, a 37.3% strikeout rate and a 17.6% walk rate. On the mound he posted a 3.30 ERA over 30 innings, with a 24.1% strikeout rate and 12.1% walk rate. McLean has huge raw power and shows easy plus power in batting practice, and he’s also generally shown solid swing decisions, but as evidenced by his strikeout rate there are big contact questions. He’s always swung and missed at a high rate, and in 2023 he had just a 55% overall contact rate. Because of that, teams almost universally prefer his pro upside as a pitcher, where he has exceptional arm talent. He averaged 94 mph in 2023 and has been up to 98, with a pair of high-spin breaking balls in a mid-80s slider and upper-70s curveball. Both pitches have above-average or plus potential with spin rates north of 2,900 rpm, but his control and command need plenty of work.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 65/Average

Adjusted Grade: 55

Track Record: When the Mets drafted McLean in the third round in 2023, he was primarily a righthanded reliever and power-hitting outfielder for Oklahoma State. He continued as a two-way player in pro ball until the second half of 2024, when he dropped hitting after reaching Double-A Binghamton. Focusing his energy solely on pitching paid dividends in 2025, when McLean raced through Double-A with a 1.37 ERA in five starts, reached Triple-A Syracuse on May 9 and led all minor league pitchers with 38 strikeouts in July. The Mets called McLean up for his MLB debut on Aug. 16, and he fired 5.1 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts against the Mariners. He threw four quality starts in eight tries while pitching to a 2.06 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 48 innings.

Scouting Report: The Mets knew McLean had an athletic, strong, 6-foot-2 frame and a promising fastball/slider foundation when they drafted him. They quickly learned about his adaptability and strong work ethic. All through his time in the minor leagues, McLean worked to refine his pitch shapes and expand his repertoire to find the right mix to combat batters of both hands. Ultimately, he reached that point in the second half of 2025, as typified by his Aug. 27 start against the Phillies when he pitched eight scoreless innings and generated at least one whiff on six different pitch types. McLean’s main weapons are a plus mid-90s two-seam fastball that averages 16 inches of armside run and a double-plus mid-80s sweeper that breaks 16 or more inches to his glove side. This vicious east-west attack delivered from a low three-quarters slot sets up the rest of his arsenal, which against righthanded batters consists mostly of plus low-80s curveballs and above-average mid-90s four-seam fastballs to change eye levels. Against lefthanded batters, McLean emphasizes his breaking pitches along with his low-90s cutter to work inside and his mid-80s changeup to attack armside. He has shown a growing willingness to front-door his two-seamer to lefty hitters and also to back-foot them with his slider. What makes McLean difficult to handle is his quality stuff and unpredictability. He throws each of his six pitch types—ranging from 77 mph curveballs to 98 mph fastballs—to any batter in any count. His control is average and likely to improve with experience, as his delivery is simple and repeatable.

The Future: In the words of one scout, McLean’s high-spin breaking stuff and low-spin changeup are “how you draw it up.” He showed in his eight-start MLB debut that he is major league ready. He was the Mets’ best pitcher down the stretch and is ready to assume a prominent role in the rotation. He has the ingredients to become a prototype No. 2 starter. McLean retains his rookie status for 2026 and will likely add Prospect Promotion Incentive eligibility, giving the Mets a chance to add a draft pick after the first round if he factors for a major award in his first three seasons.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Sweeper: 70 | Control: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: McLean played both ways at Oklahoma State, working as a right fielder and reliever. He continued as a two-way player after the Mets drafted him in the third round 2023, only now he was a DH and starting pitcher. As a hitter, McLean displayed big power in 2024 but struck out half the time. He has more promise on the mound, so he discontinued hitting in the second half. McLean made 25 starts—including 18 at Double-A—recorded a 3.78 ERA and struck out 116 batters in 109.2 innings, nearly doubling his three-year college workload in one pro season.

Scouting Report: McLean enters 2025 with a singular focus on pitching for the first time. His athleticism serves him well on the mound, where his fast arm, loose operation and engaged lower half suggest durability. McLean works primarily with a four-seam fastball and slider, but he throws six pitch types and may be just scratching the surface of his ability. He unleashes a mid-90s fastball from a low three-quarters slot and lower approach angle which helps it sneak up on batters. McLean’s mid-80s slider is his best pitch for any occasion, whether putting hitters away or getting back in counts. He throws a high-spin sweepy version in excess of 3,000 rpm against righthanded hitters and can bury the pitch with power at the back foot of lefthanded ones. McLean tried different grips on his changeup to find a reliable chase pitch but that remains a work in progress. He began throwing his curveball again later in the season while also mixing in two-seamers and cutters for maximum variety. With below-average strike rates and walk rates, control was an issue for McLean in his first full season as a starter.

The Future: If McLean’s control improves or he hones a third pitch, he could become a No. 4 starter or better. Focusing solely on pitching, now aided by more recovery time between starts, should help.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45.
BA Grade: 55/Extreme

Track Record: McLean starred in baseball and football in high school outside Raleigh, n.C., and briefly played both sports at Oklahoma State before dropping football. He continued as a two-way player for the Cowboys, playing third base and then right field while notching 11 career saves as a reliever. The Orioles drafted McLean in the third round in 2022 as an eligible sophomore but did not sign him. One year later, the Mets drafted him in the third round and signed him for slot value of $747,600. McLean made six lineup appearances at DH and two on the mound in a brief pro debut.

Scouting Report: The Mets will let McLean serve as DH on occasion in 2024--he slugged .561 in three collegiate seasons with a 35% strikeout rate--but his developmental focus will be pitching. The organization is excited by the raw stuff he showed in an offseason pitching camp and believes he can move quickly in pro ball. McLean averages 95 mph on his two-seamer with an easy motion and has topped at 98. His velocity could climb as he adapts to a pro starter’s routine. McLean’s high-spin slider has plus potential with mid-80s velocity--up to 88 mph--and two-plane break. He also throws a quality high-70s curveball on occasion. McLean didn’t throw a changeup as a college reliever, but the Mets like what they have seen in side sessions. His athleticism and strong frame stand out. McLean walked nearly 13% of collegiate batters as a reliever, so control is a giant question mark.

The Future: The Mets have turned college relievers Tylor Megill and Christian Scott into notable pro starters and will look to do the same with McLean. He should break camp with High-A Brooklyn in 2024 and deepen the organization’s growing store of athletic pitchers drafted out of college.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40

Draft Prospects

School: Oklahoma State Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Orioles ’22 (3)
Age At Draft: 22
BA Grade:40/High
Tools:Hit: 30. Power: 55. Run: 40. Field: 45. Arm: 60.

McLean ranked as the No. 135 prospect on the 2022 BA 500 as a two-way player with huge raw power and a big fastball that got into the upper 90s. He was one of three players to be selected among the top 10 rounds and not sign, and instead of inking a deal with the Orioles as a third-rounder, he went back to school where he once again served as a relief pitcher and outfielder. McLean hit .250/.379/.532 with nine home runs, six doubles, a 37.3% strikeout rate and a 17.6% walk rate. On the mound he posted a 3.30 ERA over 30 innings, with a 24.1% strikeout rate and 12.1% walk rate. McLean has huge raw power and shows easy plus power in batting practice, and he’s also generally shown solid swing decisions, but as evidenced by his strikeout rate there are big contact questions. He’s always swung and missed at a high rate, and in 2023 he had just a 55% overall contact rate. Because of that, teams almost universally prefer his pro upside as a pitcher, where he has exceptional arm talent. He averaged 94 mph in 2023 and has been up to 98, with a pair of high-spin breaking balls in a mid-80s slider and upper-70s curveball. Both pitches have above-average or plus potential with spin rates north of 2,900 rpm, but his control and command need plenty of work.
School: Oklahoma State Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21
BA Grade: 40/High
Scouting Grades: Hit: 30 | Power: 55 | Run: 30 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60
McLean showed impressive raw power as a righthanded hitter and big arm strength with a fastball in the mid 90s out of high school. He made it to campus at Oklahoma State where he also was on the university’s football team initially, before dropping the sport and focusing on baseball. A two-way player with the Cowboys, McLean has continued to show massive raw power with top-end exit velocities around 110 mph, though that power has come with significant swing and miss. In 2022 McLean hit .285/.397/.595 with 19 home runs and 16 doubles, but he also struck out 107 times—good for a 36.9% strikeout rate. Because of that, teams might now be more excited about his upside as a pitcher. He posted a 4.97 ERA over 25.1 innings out of the bullpen, with 39 strikeouts (35.1 K%) and 13 walks (11.7 BB%). He attacks hitters with a high-usage fastball in the 94-95 mph range that’s been up to 98 this spring. While he overwhelmingly pitches off the fastball, McLean has shown some potential with both a mid-80s slider and upper-70s curveball that flashes hard, downward bite. Both pitches have impressive raw spin (in the 2,800-3,100 rpm range) but he’ll need to develop considerably more feel and consistency. McLean looks the part of a former football player on the mound, with an extremely physical and strong 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame.
McLean has a power-oriented game on both sides of the ball. A 6-foot-3, 220-pound two-way player who’s also a talented football player—a three-star quarterback according to 247Sports—McLean runs his fastball into the mid-90s and has raw power at the plate. Scouts believe he’ll be tough to sign out of Oklahoma State because of his desire to play football and baseball, but there are teams interested in him as both a hitter and a pitcher. On the mound McLean has a fastball that sits in the 89-93 mph range but ticks higher, as well as a mid-70s breaking ball that needs more refinement. He’s flashed a low-80s changeup as well, but, like his curveball, the pitch needs work. At the plate, McLean has impressive raw power, though he showed a hitch over the summer that limited his contact and rhythm. However, scouts were impressed with the progress he showed with the bat early this spring and more now think he has a chance to hit at the next level. He also looked solid at shortstop when previously scouts would have said he would have to play a corner infield or outfield position. McLean was a member of USA Baseball’s 18U National Team, where he hit and pitched and posted a .263/.391/.474 slash line with the bat. He threw four innings of relief, though he struggled to a 9.00 ERA. With many options in front of him depending on the sport and position, McLean is an intriguing prospect who was trending in the right direction.