McLean’s Big Moment
WASHINGTON – Nolan McLean, now an adult, is eagerly anticipating his next opportunity on the mound.
Young Nolan, who grew up in North Carolina, cheered for the Braves and idolized players like Chipper Jones, alongside favorites from the Orioles and the Nationals, as well as Josh Hamilton from North Carolina.
His parents and fiancée are at Truist Park, which is about a six-hour drive from his hometown.
“It’s probably the closest we could get to a game,” McLean shared before the Mets faced a tough loss, 9-3, at Nationals Park on Thursday. “A lot of the travel games I played growing up were in Atlanta, so we’d regularly stop by the ballpark and catch whatever game we could.”
This visit brings a new experience for him—taking the mound rather than just watching from the stands.
The 24-year-old righty is set to officially join the Mets in the fierce rivalry against the Braves during only his second start. It’s been quite a whirlwind week for him.
Just last Wednesday, he was part of the Rochester Road Series when he got the news that Triple-A Syracuse pitching coach AJ Sager would be making his own major league debut that Saturday.
McLean made a strong impression with a dominating performance: 5¹/₃ innings of scoreless ball, allowing just two hits and four walks while striking out eight. He’s had quite the journey—from winning against the Mariners at Citi Field to his travels south, which included a stop in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, before heading to Atlanta.
“I really didn’t bring much,” he laughed. “I’m using the same suitcase with a limited wardrobe from Rochester. I’ve used up all my clothes, so I’m just improvising. I even had to wash my gear in the field the other day,” he admitted.
Amid the playoff race, he remains optimistic, especially with teammates Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea stepping up.
Having recently played against the Charlotte Knights, he knows he needs to keep up with Atlanta’s strong offense in the coming games.
McLean is aware that many will be watching—not just Mets fans, but friends, family, and former teammates, all reaching out with messages that he’s doing his best to respond to.
As he makes his ascent into the majors, McLean is ready for his phone to stay buzzing as he plays in a stadium that once was just a dream for him as a fan.
“I aim to treat every start the same. My goal is to compete,” McLean said. “But I expect it to be an incredible atmosphere, so I’ll give it my all out there.”
