New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean made his long-awaited international debut Tuesday night, starting for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic against Team Italy.
The outing began with promise but ultimately ended as a mixed performance, with McLean allowing three runs over three innings as Italy jumped out to an early lead.
Dominant opening inning
McLean could hardly have started better.
Facing the top of Italy’s lineup, the right-hander struck out the side on just 11 pitches, immediately flashing the swing-and-miss arsenal that has made him one of the Mets’ most exciting young arms.
His sweeper was particularly effective, fooling hitters and generating ugly swings, including one from veteran Jon Berti.
At that point, it looked like McLean might be in for a dominant night.
Second inning turns the game
The momentum shifted dramatically in the second inning.
With two outs, White Sox catcher Kyle Teel took a 96-mph fastball the opposite way for a solo home run, giving Italy a 1–0 lead.
The inning quickly unraveled from there.
McLean then hit Jac Caglianone with a pitch, putting another runner on base. Moments later, Sam Antonacci, another player in the White Sox system, launched a 403-foot home run to right-center field.
Suddenly, Italy held a 3–0 advantage.
Trouble continues in the third
McLean ran into additional trouble in the third inning.
He walked two hitters and allowed Italy to create a first-and-third situation with two outs, but he managed to escape the jam by inducing a fielder’s choice grounder from Zach Dezenzo.
With McLean’s pitch count nearing the 65-pitch limit used during the tournament, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa ended his outing after the third inning.
McLean finished with the following line:
- 3.0 innings pitched
- 2 hits allowed
- 3 earned runs
- 2 walks
- 4 strikeouts
- 55 pitches
What comes next
McLean could potentially appear again for Team USA later in the tournament, possibly in the championship game on March 17, if the Americans advance.
However, the loss to Italy complicates that path.
If Team USA falls into a three-way tie scenario in Pool B, advancement could come down to run-differential tiebreakers, meaning the Americans’ tournament future remains uncertain.
If the U.S. fails to advance, McLean would return to Mets spring training camp to resume preparations for the regular season.
Regardless of what happens next, his WBC debut showed both sides of the young pitcher’s game: electric strikeout stuff and the growing pains that come with developing at the highest levels of competition.
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