Nolan MacLean Faces Challenges in Season Opener
Nolan MacLean felt good about his performance initially, but things quickly took a turn.
On a chilly and breezy Sunday afternoon at Citi Field, MacLean, known for his exceptional pitching skills, struggled to find the strike zone. His first outing of the season was marked by an unusual start—he threw seven of his first eight pitches as balls, walking the first two batters he faced.
“Pitching against the wind can be tricky, especially when your teammates are moving around more than usual,” MacLean mentioned after his team’s 4-3 loss to the Pirates in 10 innings. “I was trying to pinpoint my starting point, but it took me a bit longer than expected.”
It took 15 pitches for him to get his first out, and he allowed an RBI single to Ryan O’Hearn after what felt like an eternity on the mound, using up 24 pitches to finally escape the inning with both runners stranded.
After that rocky beginning, he adapted, focusing more on his cutters and changeups and steering clear of sinkers until later in the game.
Remarkably, as the game progressed, MacLean started to resemble the promising pitcher everyone had seen last season. Although he allowed a home run to Brandon Rowe in the third, he managed to keep the damage to two runs over five innings, surrendering four hits and two walks while striking out eight.
His changeup, which had been a concern last season, was particularly effective this time, generating four whiffs from six attempts. His breaking balls were nearly untouchable, with one pitch fooling O’Hearn to end the fifth inning.
If this is what a struggling MacLean looks like, the Mets can only hope for even greater things from him moving forward.
“Even on days he’s not at his peak, he finds a way to keep it competitive, and that’s what he did today,” said coach Carlos Mendoza.
Brett Baty Takes on New Role
In another noteworthy development for the Mets, Brett Baty became the third infielder to start at a position he hadn’t played in the majors. Baty, who is originally a third baseman and had dabbled in left field in the minors, stepped up to play first base after a crash course in the spring.
He made some impressive plays and seemed at ease in the role. He replaced Jorge Polanco, who had looked shaky at first base, while Bo Bichette started at third for the second consecutive game.
Before camp, Baty had never set foot on a first base diamond, but the Mets were banking on his athleticism—stemming from his background as a high school basketball player. His natural instincts showed when he made solid picks on balls in the dirt.
Mendoza praised Baty’s agility and ability to maneuver around the bases, highlighting his exceptional footwork and impressive hands for picking up tough throws.
Originally, the Mets hadn’t mapped out this roster direction. If their initial plan had come to fruition, Baty might have been back at third base after trading for Kyle Tucker. But plans changed in January when Tucker signed with the Dodgers, nudging the Mets to pivot. Suddenly, Baty’s versatility became an asset.
“We were uncertain about our direction, but after watching him transition to second last year effortlessly, we were confident he could handle first base or even play in the outfield,” Mendoza added.
Looking ahead, Mendoza hinted that Baty might have a chance to give Luis Robert Jr. a break, possibly shifting Carson Benge to center field. Robert started his Mets journey on a high note, notching five hits in his first eleven at-bats along with five RBIs.
