The New York Mets got some good news regarding the health of pitcher Nolan McLean yesterday, but Team USA got some better news about the starter who’s expected to help anchor the team’s rotation in the WBC.
McLean pitched in a minor league game on the back fields on Wednesday, but the results were largely unimportant. He allowed one run over four innings, with the better news being that McLean emerged from the start yesterday with no lingering symptoms from the bout of vertigo that plagued him earlier this week. That means he’ll report to Team USA today.
Both teams likely heaved a sigh of relief, the Mets especially. As important as McLean is to Team USA, the WBC is a brief event, while the Mets expect McLean to slot in second in their rotation, and there are even signs he could challenge newly-signed starter Freddy Peralta as the ace.
McLean and Mendoza swapped positive comments about the start in a piece written by Marc Feinsand of MLB.com.
“No symptoms out there throwing, which I think was the ultimate test,” said McLean. “I felt a little erratic; I think I was just fired up to get out there.”
“Nolan was good,” Mendoza said after the start on Wednesday. “Velo was up, he was able to get his four ups and felt good."
The pitcher’s recovery included a sit-down with the Mets medical staff, during which he was honest about how he felt. He’ll now exit Mets camp in Florida and travel to Houston to join Team USA, where fellow starter Clay Holmes is already working out with the team.
The other pivotal element of McLean’s recover was restoring his body weight. He lost five pounds due to the vertigo-induced symptoms, but quickly gained them back.
“I'm feeling good,” McLean said. “My body weight is in a good spot, my strength numbers on all the tests have been right where they are normally, so I'm not too worried about that.”
The Mets are probably still slightly worried about getting McLean back whole and healthy after the WBC, but there are a lot of teams in the same boat. McLean’s first start is scheduled for Tuesday against Italy at Daikin Park in Houston, and the game will be the final pool-play contest.
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said McLean will get the nod if his club reaches the finals, but McLean isn’t looking that far ahead.
“That's a great honor, but there's a lot of baseball to be played and a lot of really good teams out there,” McLean said. “My job is to go out there, compete against Italy, do the best I can and be a good teammate for the rest of the game. And hopefully we’ll make the finals and I'll get the ball.”