Here's why Mets pitcher Nolan McLean was kept out of team throwing sessions for Team USA ahead of the WBC.
While spring training is well underway, several MLB stars have now departed to participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, an exciting opportunity for players to represent their countries on a world stage. But the same maladies that affect players in regular training also persist through the WBC, and New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean is experiencing just that. He is one of 17 players from the club, and one of eight major league players, who made the various rosters. But he was absent from Monday’s team workouts as his arrival was delayed due to him experience vertigo-like symptoms, which came out on Tuesday.
McLean spoke to reporters Tuesday and was confident he’ll be able to join Team USA later this week at their training camp in Houston. The symptoms also included a loss of appetite, which Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said McLean started all experiencing on Friday night. As a result, he didn’t report to camp in Scottsdale, Ariz. and elected to remain with New York in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where he started to make progress in feeling better by Saturday.
Here is the full story from Mets Roundtable writer Matt Wadleigh on the update for McLean.
McLean is slated to start Game 4 for the USA against Italy. He pitched on the side on Sunday and the plan is to have him throw on the back fields on Wednesday, according to Mendoza. If all goes well, they’ll send him to report to Team USA ahead of the WBC.