Nolan McLean Named MLB Pipeline’s Top Pitching Prospect

With the regular season over and the playoffs now heading into the Division Series in both leagues, MLB Pipeline has released their updated top 100 prospects list.

Four Mets were featured in the rankings, with right-handed pitcher Nolan McLean placing the highest amongst that group at No. 11. He had previously come in at No. 36, marking a rise of 25 spots that was the third-greatest across the league in Pipeline’s update.

Not only that, but McLean is now the site’s top-rated pitching prospect. That title is well-deserved following a stellar start to this big-league career that saw him post a minuscule 2.06 ERA and 2.97 FIP over eight outings and 48 innings down the stretch. Though the Mets’ rotation as a whole is likely to see some form of upheaval this offseason, McLean should already be penciled in as a future stalwart for the unit as he heads into what will be considered his official rookie season in 2026.

Next up on the list is outfielder Carson Benge, McLean’s former Oklahoma State teammate, at No. 21. He had initially been ranked at No. 20 when Pipeline’s most recent update was released back in August.

Benge, who was selected in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft, was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse on August 10 after slashing .317/.407/.571 in 145 plate appearances for Double-A Binghamton. He hit just .178/.272/.311 for Syracuse, though he was placed on the injured list in mid-August and likely wasn’t playing healthy when he did return to close out the year.

With an .857 OPS, 15 home runs and 73 RBIs over 116 total games in the minors this season, Benge looks primed to make an impact at the major league level for the Mets in 2026.

Infielder/outfielder Jett Williams followed closely behind him at No. 30, meaning he remained in the same spot that he was originally slotted into back in August. The 21-year-old was promoted to Syracuse alongside Benge on August 10 and slashed .209/.285/.433 with seven home runs, 15 RBIs and two stolen bases across 34 contests for the affiliate. In 96 games for Binghamton, Williams hit .281/.390/.477 to go with 10 homers, 37 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.

The final Mets farmhand on the list is right-handed pitcher Jonah Tong, who was placed at No. 46. Named the MiLB Pitching Prospect of the Year, Tong owned the best ERA among qualified players in the minors at 1.43 while also topping the leaderboard with 179 strikeouts over 113 2/3 innings between Syracuse and Binghamton.

Tong didn’t turn in great results in his first taste of big-league action, logging a 7.71 ERA across five starts and 18 2/3 innings, but he remains a key piece of the Mets’ future and should only improve as he continues developing.

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