Nolan McLean didn’t need much time to make an impression in the big leagues.

The New York Mets right-hander struck out eight over 5.1 scoreless innings in his MLB debut on Aug. 16 against the Seattle Mariners, allowing just two hits with four walks.

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He finished his debut stint 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 48.1 innings. At 24 years old and the No. 6 overall prospect according to MLB.com, he’s now projected to open the season in New York’s starting rotation after entering pro ball as a third-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.

The #Mets are no strangers to right-handed pitching phenoms, and Nolan McLean appears to be the next star in Queens.

MLB's No. 6 prospect is primed to follow in the footsteps of some true legends: https://t.co/pmWtWRHOoh pic.twitter.com/ncxN60CryP

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 21, 2026

The call-up itself came with a rush of emotions. McLean was able to share the news with his family and fiancée, but the turnaround was quick. There was little time to reflect before he had to prepare for his first start. Having not participated in major league spring training, he also walked into a clubhouse where he didn’t know many people.

Veteran outfielder Brandon Nimmo — now with the Texas Rangers — was one of the first teammates to take him under his wing and help ease the transition. Even so, McLean said his sense of calm came mostly from his faith and preparation.

“I think it all kind of falls back into God’s plan,” he said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in December. “I don’t think He’ll ever put me in a situation He hasn’t prepared me for. So I was confident going in and just comfortable.

“The most comfortable part was me going out and pitching. I felt prepared for that. I felt like God had put me in a good position to develop and prepare and build confidence in myself.”

He entered pro ball as a two-way player, but he gave up hitting prior to the 2024 season to focus exclusively on pitching — a move that accelerated his development and helped lead to his major-league opportunity. After his strong debut last season, he was selected to Team USA’s World Baseball Classic roster.

A native of Willow Springs, North Carolina, McLean grew up in a Christian household and attended church every Sunday. His faith continued into college at Oklahoma State, where he originally arrived as a two-sport athlete.

He walked on as a three-star quarterback and redshirted his freshman season before ultimately deciding to focus solely on baseball. Even then, he said his relationship with God was present but not as deep as it could have been.

“Growing up, I always knew and felt there was something out there, that there was a God of some kind,” he said in 2022 on Sports Spectrum’s “Table Forty” podcast. “I didn’t really know what, so I started researching and reading and started reading the Bible.”

He even led a Bible study while at Oklahoma State, though he now looks back on those years knowing he could have gone deeper in his faith.

Nolan McLean discusses his offseason, what he's working on at Spring Training, and his excitement for the World Baseball Classic 💪 pic.twitter.com/6ifaYAzT1F

— New York Mets (@Mets) February 3, 2026

A turning point came after the death of his grandfather, a strong Christian influence in his life. McLean stepped away from the team to attend the funeral, where he estimated roughly 1,000 people showed up — each with stories about the impact his grandfather had made.

“Just seeing how many people that my granddad had an impact on, he did that with a platform in Andrew, North Carolina, with nobody,” he said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast. “And I’m over here worried about all this other stuff when I could be devoting my life to God and helping out other people on a much bigger platform than what my granddad did it on.”

The moment became a catalyst for McLean to pursue his faith more intentionally. He said he realized he knew about God, but not enough to confidently teach others about Him.

“And I want to be able to teach people,” he added. “If someone asks me a question, I want to be able to answer it and help others get closer to Christ.”

That perspective now shapes how he carries himself on the mound.

“A full love and compassion for Him makes everything on the field go so much smoother,” McLean said on “Table Forty.”

The World Baseball Classic runs from March 5-17, with the championship game being played at loanDepot Park in Miami. The Mets open the 2026 regular season on March 26 at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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