Nolan McLean

A former two-way player, McLean's future was always likely to be on the mound, but 2025 was his first full year as a full-time pitcher. He dominated in 161.2 innings across Double-A, Triple-A and the big leagues, logging a K-BB% over 16 percent and a groundball rate over 53 percent at all three stops. He seemingly reached another level after his mid-August promotion to the majors, lighting up stuff models en route to a 2.06 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 57:16 K:BB and 61.1 GB% in 48 innings (eight starts). The 24-year-old righty throws six distinct offerings, sitting in the mid-90s with his two fastballs and averaging at least 80 mph on all six pitches, including his 70- to 80-grade curveball, which may already be one of the best pitches in the game. His big breaker averaged 3,248 rpm and logged a 50 percent whiff rate and .088 wOBA against on 117 total pitches. His changeup and cutter were each thrown around 8.5 percent of the time while logging whiff rates over 30 percent, so McLean has a bevy of ways to attack batters of either handedness. Barring a big offseason acquisition, McLean figures to be the Mets' Opening Day starter and could push for 180-plus innings with good health. Read Past Outlooks