The Mets have agreed to terms with two third-round picks from the 2023 MLB Draft, a two-way prospect Nolan McLean and RHP Kade Morristhe club announced.
McLean, who the Mets will use as a right-handed pitcher and designated hitter, was signed at the full pick value of $747,600 for the 91st overall selection, according to senior MLB Pipeline Jim Callis. As a batter, he has power potential to all fields, but many around the game see McLean as a pitching prospect.
Morris, who MLP pipeline rated as the 142nd prospect entering the 2023 draft, was signed to the full pick value of $666,500 for the 101st overall selection out of the University of Nevada, per Callis.
After announcing agreements with first-round pick shortstop Colin Houck and second-round pick RHP Brandon Sproat on Friday, the club has now locked up their first four draft picks.
Listed at six-foot-four, 214 pounds, McLean (MLB Pipeline’s 97th-rated prospect entering the draft) played three seasons at Oklahoma State and was used as a two-way player in each of the past two seasons after pitching just 2.0 innings in 2021.
At the plate, strikeouts have been an issue. He set a Division I record with 107 Ks in 2022 as a sophomore. Still, he managed to hit 16 doubles and 19 home runs while driving in 47 and slashing .285/.397/.595 for a .992 OPS in 290 plate appearances over 64 games that year.
McLean’s offensive numbers dipped in 2022 while batting in fewer games, as he managed just six doubles and nine homers with 29 RBI while slashing .250/.379/.532 with a .911 OPS in 153 plate appearances over 43 games. And he struck out 57 times, 46 percent of all of his at-bats.
On the hill, McLean’s fastball hits around 98mph, and his repertoire is rounded out by a plus slider in the mid-80s and a curveball.
Working out of the Cowboys bullpen in 2022, he appeared in 23 games and pitched to a 4.97 ERA and 1.303 WHIP. The right-hander surrendered 17 runs (14 earned) on 20 hits over 25.1 innings with 39 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Last season he made three starts in 14 appearances and saw his ERA dip to 3.30 as his WHIP went up to 1.567. McLean allowed 14 runs (11 earned) on 30 hits over 30.0 innings with 34 strikeouts and 17 walks.
McLean was selected by the Baltimore Orioles as a pitcher last year, but he did not sign with the club, who saw him primarily as a pitcher but were going to let him do both, as well.
“Nolan’s primary focus with us will be pitching,” Orioles Director of Draft Operations Brad Ciolek said at the time. “We think that there is immense upside with him as far as his arsenal is concerned and the ability to stretch him out once he gets acclimated to pro ball.
“With that said, we are going to give him the opportunity to DH. He does have prodigious raw power, plus raw power to all fields, so we will give him the opportunity to continue hitting.”
Morris, listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, induced ground balls at a 42 percent rate his final season with Nevada. His fastball sits at 93-94mph and has touched 97mph on occasion. He has an above-average slider and average changeup.
In 2023, his first season as a full-time starting pitcher after making just four starts out of 18 appearances in 2022, the right-hander made 14 starts and surrendered 60 runs (49 earned) on 96 hits over 81.1 innings pitched for a 5.42 ERA and 1.512 WHIP. He tallied 85 strikeouts and 27 walks.
The Mets have now signed: INF AJ Ewing (4th round); RHP Austin Troesser (4th round); RHP Jack Wenninger (6th round); RHP Noah Hall (7th round); INF Boston Bar (8th round); INF Nick Lorusso (9th round); and Catcher Christian Present (10th round).