Nolan McLean Delivers Mixed Results in WBC Start

Less than one year after making his MLB debut for the Mets, Nolan McLean got his first start for Team USA in a World Baseball Classic matchup against Italy on Tuesday.

He started the first inning by pitching exactly how many expected: striking out the side on 11 pitches.

However, the second inning was a tale of two innings. Things unraveled for McLean in inning number two after getting the first two batters to ground out. The Mets’ 24-year-old pitcher surrendered a solo home run to Kyle Teel, then proceeded to hit Jac Caglianone. The blow of the inning came when Sam Antonacci took McLean deep to make it a 3-0 Italy lead.

McLean fared better in the third, escaping the inning without allowing another run. New York’s top prospect ended his night after throwing 55 pitches (34 strikes) across three innings. He allowed three earned runs on two hits, walked two and struck out four.

Over the course of his night, McLean got six whiffs and had a 29 percent called strikes plus whiffs percentage. According to Pitcher List Stats, he threw his breaking ball most, throwing 17 curveballs and 15 sweepers, which proved to be his strongest pitches on Tuesday night. Of note, both home runs came on the four-seamer

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