New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean. Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Scout shares big prediction about future of Mets' Nolan McLean

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Aug 14, 2025 1:17 PM ET

Before the New York Mets blew a six-run lead en route to an embarrassing 11-6 loss to the Atlanta Braves (52-68) on Wednesday, it was learned that they would be promoting promising pitching prospect Nolan McLean.

McLean will start Saturday against the Seattle Mariners (67-54) in New York. For an article published on Thursday, Manny Gomez of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com reached out to a rival scout to inquire about McLean's potential at the MLB level.

"McLean will be a good, consistent big-league starting pitcher for a long time," the scout told Gomez.

Per Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News, McLean’s 10.0 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate is the highest among Mets' Triple-A starters, which is likely why McLean was promoted before fellow prospect Brandon Sproat.

"I think this is the correct call," a scout told SNY's Andy Martino about the Mets' decision. "Saw [McLean] and Sproat a few weeks ago and thought McLean was a tick ahead … overall stuff, command, control, mound presence. McLean is a very good athlete."

McLean will now be tasked with stabilizing the Mets' pitching staff, which has played a considerable role in the club's recent spiral from a 45-24 record on June 12 to 64-56 as of Thursday.

The Mets have received 594 1/3 innings from their starters this season, which ranks 27th in the Majors.

Since June 13 -- a span of exactly two months -- they are dead last in that category. They simply cannot keep doing this and expect to win consistently.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 14, 2025

As SNY's Phillip Martinez noted, 2025 All-Star David Peterson began the fourth inning Wednesday with a 6-0 lead. He then surrendered four walks and two hits before being pulled for reliever Reed Garrett, who gave up a grand slam to Braves' Michael Harris II.

"It’s frustrating," Peterson said after the defeat about the struggles Mets pitchers have endured over the past two months. "We’re not holding up our end, and we need to do better. [Fixing it] starts with analyzing the performance and turning the page and moving on to the next one."

The 64-58 Cincinnati Reds could soon take possession of the third and final National League wild-card spot from the Mets. It remains to be seen if McLean can help the Amazins do more than win a couple of games.

"[McLean is] very athletic," the scout told Gomez. "He features a sharp and sudden slider, commands everything, is smart with aptitude, and has an advanced feel for it all."

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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