The Mets are reportedly promoting two of their young and promising arms in their system. After a strong season so far for both these two righties, it’s time for a new challenge. Mets top pitching prospect Blade Tidwell will be promoted to the Syracuse Mets, the Mets Triple-A affiliate. Two-way Star Nolan McLean will move into Tidwell his spot and join the Binghamton Rumble Ponies rotation (and line-up).
Blade Tidwell:
The Mets 10th prospect on MLB Pipelines Mets Top Prospect list had a strong showing in Binghamton. In 7 games (5 ”long” starts) Tidwell pitched to a 2.41 ERA over 37.1 innings of work. In those 37.1 innings of work the 22-year-old allowed just 29 hits and 11 walks. That’s good for a 1.07 WHIP.
The second-best pitching prospect according to MLB Pipeline in the Mets system struck out 44 innings, also limiting the home run ball. Tidwell allowed just one homerun on the seasonso far, showing his ability to limit the big damage.
Drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft, Tidwell had success since joining the Mets organization. In three minor league seasons, he has a 3.21 ERA, striking out 11.5 per nine innings of work.
Tidwell adjusted well to the AA level after his initial stint was a little more difficult. After his midseason promotion in 2023, Tidwell pitched to a 4.72 ERA over 34.1 innings. This stint was far more successful as only one outing was bad.
Tidwell allowed 2 runs or less in six of his seven outings. The only bad outing came on May the 10th, where he allowed 5 runs in two innings. He allowed 10 hits over those two innings of work. He bounced back with a strong outing last week, going six innings of one run ball.
The 6-4ft has a nice pitch mix with a mid to high 90’s which gets good ride. He added a cutter which he has used with success to go with a sweeper and change-up. I was able to watch a couple of his outings and for a new pitch (cutter), he had a lot of control on the pitch.
Another young arm that hasn’t been very high on the Mets ranks, but in my opinion has a good shot becoming a solid mid rotation arm. His move up to Syracuse is another move closer to the big leagues.
Nolan McLean:
Nolan McLean is most known as a two-way star prospect. Drafted in the third round two years in a row, he opted to sign with the Mets in 2023. So far, so good for the 22-year-old righty.
McLean started his pro career in 2023 but did get into just eight games as a hitter and one as a pitcher. His first true time in the Mets organization was this year with the Brooklyn Cyclones. So far, he has had more success as a pitcher than with the bat. In seven starts, McLean has a 2.57 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 29 innings of work. Over that span he walked just five, which was a concern after the draft.
McLean gets his most success on the mound due to a mid to high 90’s Fastball, that has reached 99 on the gun and a good-looking sweeper. He has a change-up and curve, but I see those pitches behind the ‘big two’. I was able to watch McLean on May the 4th, as he struck out 8 over five scoreless frames. Seven of those eight strikeouts came on the Sweeper, which got a ton of whiffs.
Just like Tidwell, McLean had just one outing, where he allowed more than 2 runs. In his second start of the season, he allowed six runs in 2.2. Since that start, he has allowed just two runs over 22 innings of work.
McLean did show some power with the bat, but to me he could have a difficult time hitting in AA. In 24 games, McLean had a .219/.286/.516 slash line, showing a lot of power, but also a lot of swing and miss. McLean collected 11 extra base hits in 24 games but struck out 37 times as well.
Still, it’s fun to see the potential two-way star moving up. On the pitching side, he definitely earned it, and we see how his bat will follow.
I am excited to see both Tidwell and McLean making a move up in the Mets system. Good to see the Mets being aggressive in promotions so far. They also promoted Rhylan Thomas, an interesting 4th/5th outfielder option for the future.
