Mets Pick Two-Way RHP/OF Nolan McLean at No. 91

With the 91^st pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the New York Mets selected a two-way player in the righty Nolan McLean from Oklahoma State. McLean is a right-handed pitcher who also has the ability to play the outfield or serve as a designated hitter. He is ranked as the No. 97 prospect in the draft by MLB Pipeline.

McLean’s scouting grades on MLB Pipeline for pitching include a fastball (65), curveball (55), and slider (55). His control is graded at 45, with an overall pitching rating of 45, with 50 (on a scale of 20 to 80) representing MLB average.

For hitting, scouts grade McLean with a 40 hitting grade, 60 power, 30 running, 70 arm strength, and 45 fielding for an overall offensive grade of 45. The slot value for pick No. 91 is $747,600.

Nolan McLean, Photo by Nathan J. Fisher of The Oklahaman

McLean had a chance to be drafted out of high school, but a player with a football background, he wanted a shot to play football in college. That never happened as he ended up becoming a two-way baseball player. He also has a background in basketball.

He was drafted in 2022 by the Orioles, but after they didn’t like the results of an MRI, the Orioles failed to come to agreement with McLean.

In analyzing McLean, scouts believe he will more than likely end up as a pitcher at the professional level and will succeed more on the mound as a mid-rotation starter or a late-inning reliever. He has a strong fastball that touches up to 98 mph and an above-average slider that reaches the mid-80s. He has a changeup as well.

When it comes to his bat, MLB Pipeline says McLean “generates high exit velocities and massive raw power to all fields with a combination of bat speed, strength and leverage.” However, he struck out an NCAA-record 107 times as a sophomore in just 290 plate appearances (36.9%).

McLean was 1-2 in 2023 with 34 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched for Oklahoma State. He walked just 17 batters and gave up 11 earned runs. At the plate, he had a.250 average with six doubles, one triple, and nine home runs. He had 29 RBIs and 31 runs scored in 39 games.

Overall in his college career, he had a .957 OPS and 34.% strikeout rate across 616 plate appearances.

McLean was one of the more intriguing two-players in the NCAA throughout his career, but as mentioned, most teams believe he will be a pitcher as he grows in his professional career.