Mets prospect Nolan McLean strikes out seven batters in latest Triple-A start

Mets pitching prospect Nolan McLean continues to impress with another quality outing on Tuesday night.

Pitching for Triple-A Syracuse, McLean allowed just one hit on three walks (and one HBP) across 5.2 scoreless innings while striking out seven batters against the Charlotte Knights. He generated 15 swing and misses while topping out at 97.3 mph.

McLean kept the Knights off balance and cruised with the fourth inning being his only high-leverage situation. In that inning, McLean allowed a two-out walk to Andre Lipcius and Bryan Ramos followed with a single. But the right-hander bounced back with a strikeout on seven pitches. McLean would be one batter shy of getting through six innings, but a two-out walk to Will Robertson forced Syracuse to pull McLean after 96 pitches (58 strikes) thrown.

Mets reliever Huascar Brazoban was called to relieve McLean and struck out Lipcius to get through the sixth and end McLean's night.

Entering Tuesday's start, McLean has been terrific, tossing 104.0 innings split between Double-A Binghamton and Syracuse while posting a 2.60 ERA and 1.14 WHIP while striking out 113 batters.

With the Mets in potential need of some arms down the stretch, McLean — and fellow prospect Brandon Sproat — could be in play for a call-up. If McLean continues to pitch like this, he may leave the Mets with little choice but to call him up, especially the way the current major league starters are unable to give the team length.

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