Mets promote Nolan McLean to start Saturday against Mariners

The New York Mets will summon right-handed pitcher Nolan McLean for his major league debut this weekend, lining him up to start Saturday against the Seattle Mariners and filling the rotation spot created when Frankie Montas moved to the bullpen. The promotion also aligns with roster management and rookie-eligibility rules that could influence draft-pick incentives and future discussions around the club’s pitching depth.

McLean, 24, is widely regarded as one of the Mets’ top pitching prospects and a bona fide contributor in their farm system. He has dominated at the upper levels of the minors this season, splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A, posting an ERA around 2.4 and compiling a high-strikeout rate across more than 110 minor-league innings. Drafted in the third round in 2023 out of Oklahoma State, McLean has developed a fastball that sits around the mid-90s and can reach the high-90s, complemented by a strong mix of breaking balls and a cutter. In scouting notes, his spin and command have been highlighted as elite, with observers citing a repeatable delivery and an advanced feel for hitters.

The Mets have been short-handed in the rotation of late, a situation that...