Nolan McLean Shattering Mets Expectations So Far

These five generational pitchers are permanent fixtures of Mets folklore, an exclusive group of homegrown talent. Yet, they may have another franchise ace on the team right now.

Nolan McLean has the potential to receive an invitation to become their sixth member. Just 11 starts into his big-league career, the 24-year-old right-hander is already breaking records and making history.

Since his debut on August 16th, 2025, here is how McLean stacks up against the rest of the league's starting pitchers:

• Tied for 3rd most strikeouts (77) with Toronto Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman
• 7th best ERA (2.23)
• Tied for 10th best WHIP (0.99) with the Detroit Tigers’ reigning back-to-back AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal

McLean became the first Mets pitcher to earn a win in each of their first four starts. Despite making just eight MLB starts in 2025, he was named to Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, joining 23-year-old superstar Paul Skenes as the only other pitcher younger than 27 years old.

He has carried his excellent form on the mound into the 2026 season. Through three starts, McLean boasts a 2.70 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with a very strong 20:6 strikeout to walk ratio (K:BB). Opposing hitters are batting just .140 thus far against McLean.

McLean's control and prowess commanding a five-pitch arsenal is already top-notch, a ridiculous feat given the fact that he hasn't even spent a calendar year in an MLB clubhouse yet.

His sinker and sweeper have been making waves online for their insane movement. Just look at how McLean left back-to-back NL Silver Slugger winner Ketel Marte hopeless last night:

One of the most important skills a modern pitcher can possess is "tunneling", or the ability to deceive hitters by using the same arm angle and release point to throw different pitches back to back. If it sounds at all confusing, just watch McLean use his sweeper to set up a nasty fastball to tie up Jerar Encarnacion of the San Francisco Giants on April 3rd:

With enormous potential comes enormous expectations, and it's unrealistic to assume that McLean won't deal with obstacles throughout his MLB career, whether through injury or hitters gradually figuring out how to approach him as his sample size increases.

Whatever the case, one thing is for certain: the sky is the limit for Nolan McLean.

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