This might seem like an obvious thing to say considering that he was literally called up to the Major Leagues in August, but at #6 on MiLB’s Top 100, Nolan McLean may be the most pro-ready prospect on this list.

He only made 8 starts at the big league level, but his numbers popped off the page. He went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 57 Ks in 48 innings. McLean has already positioned himself as a potential ace for the Mets staff in 2026.

The 24-year-old has both a 4-seam and a sinker that move at 94-96 MPH, and he tends to rely more on the sinker because it has more vertical movement. The combo of the two with identical speed profiles keep hitters uneasy. His showcase pitch however is his sweeper. The spin rate is elite, and he can locate it extremely well. He also works in a curveball, and though he can’t locate the curve as well as he can the sweeper, the movement of the pitch combined with McLean’s competitiveness make it a worthy part of his deep arsenal.

McLean was named MLB Network’s MiLB Breakout Player of the Year, and prior to being called up at the end of 2025, he had a career ERA of 1.85 in the minors. He saw a huge leap from this time last year to now, going from the #99 prospect in 2025 to #8 in 2026, according to Baseball America. BA had McLean scouted as a future number 3 or 4 starter a season ago, and now he’s projected as an elite top-of-the-line guy. A lot can change in a year.

It may seem over-the-top, but when I watch McLean pitch, two future Hall of Fame aces come to mind. McLean’s best pitch is his filthy sweeper that can make hitters look SILLY. Clayton Kershaw and his signature 12-6 curveball rings a bell. In terms of his delivery and competitive nature, a draw a line from both back to a former New York Met, Max Scherzer. Throughout his incredible career, Scherzer has been one of my favorite pitchers to watch and has a mound presence that makes it seem like he’s already gotten hitters out before he throws a pitch. Like Scherzer, McLean has a lower-arm slot that can sometimes look like the ball is coming from the side.

Long story short is that McLean will be a problem for hitters. He’s one of the few prospects in this series who has already started the MLB service time clock, but McLean is the only one who has already flashed All-Star potential. At worst, I expect McLean to be the Mets’ #2 starter behind Peralta, but I’d be stunned if McLean didn’t eclipse Peralta by June. I think it’s safe to say that Nolan McLean is my early pick for NL Rookie of the Year, and there’s a chance the race won’t even be close.

I’m making another prediction: a team has relatively cheap control over a prospect for six years. That’s why some teams have manipulated the service times of their top rookies in the past and dragged them through arbitration the closer they get to that 6-year mark. Not only do I think this won’t happen to McLean, but given how vocal Mets owner Steve Cohen has been about his willingness to spend money, I fully expect Cohen to lock up Nolan McLean to a lucrative contract extension in the next season or two.

Based on a limited sample size, Nolan McLean could be the next great MLB ace, and (even as a fan of a team that hates the Mets), I fully look forward to seeing him try to live up to live up to those lofty expectations for years to come.