Mets pitching prospect Nolan McLean promoted to Triple-A Syracuse

Mets pitching prospect Nolan McLean is now just a phone call away from Queens.

McLean, who had been dominating this season for Double-A Binghamton, has been promoted to Triple-A Syracuse.

The 23-year-old right-hander, who is in his first season as a full-time starting pitcher (after transitioning from being a two-way player during the 2024 season), has immense upside.

In 26.1 innings over five starts for Binghamton this year, McLean had a 1.37 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 30 strikeouts.

On May 2, McLean fired 6.0 innings of shutout ball while allowing five hits, walking two, and striking out four.

McLean features an elite sweeper and high-octane four-seam fastball, and also utilizes a changeup, two-seam fastball, curve, and cutter.

With McLean now in Triple-A, three of the Mets' top four pitching prospects (McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Blade Tidwell) are now at the highest level of the minors.

Jonah Tong, ranked as SNY contributor Joe DeMayo's third-best Mets pitching prospect and No. 7 overall prospect, is with Binghamton, where he has been excelling.

Tong has a 3.38 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 38 strikeouts in 21.1 innings over five starts -- an eye-popping rate of 16.0 strikeouts per nine.

Tidwell made his big league debut during Sunday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, while Sproat and McLean are expected to get their first taste of the majors later this season.

As their starting pitching prospects get closer to making meaningful big league contributions, the Mets continue to get strong performances from their current rotation of Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Tylor Megill, and Griffin Canning -- and that group is expected to get reinforcements around June with the returns of Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas.

The Mets, who have been using a sixth starter recently (sometimes utilizing openers), are expected to go to a more regular six-man rotation when they're closer to full strength.

How New York utilizes its top pitching prospects in the majors in the coming weeks and months remains to be seen, but it's getting close to the point where their impact will be felt.