Mets' Carlos Mendoza has 'mixed feelings' about Nolan McLean starting for USA in WBC title game

Promising New York Mets prospect and potential future ace Nolan McLean will get the start for Team USA versus Venezuela in the final of the World Baseball Classic at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Tuesday night. 

While speaking with reporters on Monday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza suggested he will be nervously tracking McLean's performance. 

Carlos Mendoza will be "praying" about Nolan McLean starting WBC final

"I have mixed feelings," Mendoza admitted about the situation, per John Flanigan of SNY. "I'm not going to lie. The fact that he’s going to have that experience is something unbelievable. We'll be praying, but it's awesome -- as far as him pitching in that environment, he’s wired and built for that, just based off of what we saw last year and being around him -- the moment is not too big."

Mendoza was serving as a bench coach for Venezuela during the 2023 World Baseball Classic when then-Mets closer Edwin Diaz shockingly suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee as he celebrated helping Puerto Rico earn a win during the tournament. Diaz didn't make a single in-game appearance for the 2023 Amazins, and the club ultimately missed the playoffs before then-manager Buck Showalter was dismissed by current Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns.

Carlos Mendoza shares WBC warning for Nolan McLean

McLean made his MLB debut with the Mets last season and posted a 5-1 record with a 2.06 ERA across eight starts. Mendoza understands those outings may not fully prepare McLean for what the 24-year-old will experience while taking the bump for Team USA on Tuesday.

"I had the opportunity last WBC, and it’s nothing compared to a playoff atmosphere at the big-league level," Mendoza added during his comments. "You’re representing your country, you have the world watching and have USA playing with and against the best players -- it’ll definitely be different than what he experienced last year." 

Mendoza and others associated with the Mets will spend portions of Tuesday hoping that McLean won't be negatively impacted in any way by what takes place during what critics of this international competition would refer to as a meaningless exhibition game.