The New York Mets rolled out their No. 3 prospect against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday evening to close out the three-game series sweep. Nolan McLean made his third MLB career start, and much like the previous two, he was dominant against the Phillies.
McLean, a 2023 third-round draft pick (91st overall) out of Oklahoma State University, entered the minor leagues as a two-way player, hitting in both 2023 and 2024 before focusing solely on pitching for the 2025 season.
Mets' Nolan McLean dominated Phillies in first of many future NL East meetings
The disastrous series for the Phillies ended with McLean throwing eight scoreless innings with six strikeouts while allowing only four hits in a 6-0 win that completed the Mets’ series sweep.
His early career resume includes impressive outings against a tough Seattle Mariners offense and two NL East rivals the Phillies and the Atlanta Braves. Through his three starts so far this season, McLean has dominated opponents, throwing 20 1/3 innings and allowing just two earned runs. He has recorded two quality starts in those three appearances and became the first Mets pitcher to win each of his first three outings.
The Phillies will have to get used to seeing him, as the 24-year-old is just beginning his big league career and will not be going anywhere. The Mets are clearly counting on the right-hander to strengthen their rotation this season and long term and will make the divisional matchup that much harder against a team the Phillies have struggled with as of late.
Start your day with some @nolanmclean11 FILTH 😤 pic.twitter.com/oU9DdAjF5V
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 28, 2025
Nolan McLean's advanced metrics should worry Phillies fans long-term
McLean has showcased exceptional stuff across his pitch arsenal. He has allowed only four barreled balls, which accounts for just 8.5 percent of batted balls. He’s striking hitters out at a 28.8 percent rate and has hitters chasing 27.1 percent of the time with a 28.8 percent whiff rate. Combined with a top-tier 66 percent ground ball rate, it's no wonder opposing hitters are batting just .149 and slugging .209 against him.
His curveball currently carries a Stuff+ rating of 145, indicating elite-level performance. It’s not just the curveball giving hitters trouble. Each of his six pitches rates at or above the average line of 100. His slider carries a Stuff+ of 112 and has been his second-best pitch. His fastball sits at 95 mph with a 108 Stuff+. His overall Stuff+ is 114.
The one area for improvement is command. His Location+ sits just below average at 98, indicating he still has room to grow in consistently placing his pitches. Still, his Pitching+ a combined metric sits at an impressive 110.
For the Phillies, this one stings. Watching a Mets pitcher come up and immediately prove his worth is tough. This is especially true considering the Phillies traded away their second-best pitching prospect Mick Abel, while their top prospect Andrew Painter continues to struggle in the minors despite being expected to make an impact similar to McLean.