{"id":18110,"date":"2026-03-04T15:32:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T23:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=18110"},"modified":"2026-03-04T15:32:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T23:32:21","slug":"nolan-mclean-is-set-to-join-team-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2026\/03\/04\/nolan-mclean-is-set-to-join-team-usa\/","title":{"rendered":"Nolan McLean is Set to Join Team USA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Righty Nolan McLean<\/a><\/strong> confirmed that he is ready to join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic during a press conference on Wednesday at the New York Mets<\/a> spring training facility. He added that he felt \u201cpretty good\u201d getting back on the mound after dealing with vertigo this past weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlmost too loose at times, which I guess is a good thing,\u201d McLean said. \u201cFelt a little erratic. I think I was fired up to get out of there.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was scheduled to leave the Mets’ spring training camp on Friday to join Team USA, but the injury set him slightly back. After recovering, he threw live pitches during practice en route to likely joining the team in Houston for their first game on March 6.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had no symptoms out there throwing, which I think is the ultimate test,\u201d McLean added. \u201cHopefully, I can leave here in the next day or so.\u201d<\/p>\n

High Pressure Competition<\/h4>\n

Some have set lofty expectations for Nolan McLean this season following a 5\u20131 rookie campaign. But first, he will join Team USA on their journey for a gold medal. Additionally, he will team up with Clay Holmes<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Tarik Skubal <\/a><\/strong>and Paul Skenes<\/strong><\/a> to form a formidable rotation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a bunch of Cy Youngs in that building, so it will be cool getting to learn from them, see how they handle everything, and watch from afar,\u201d McLean said.<\/p>\n

Nolan McLean is scheduled to pitch in the final pool play game against Team Italy on March 10. He is also slated to start in the championship game if Team USA advances through the tournament. Defending champion Japan is expected to defend its crown in the championship round. But this shouldn\u2019t scare a tried and true competitor like McLean.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just uber-competitive. Whether it\u2019s out there on the backfield or if it\u2019s in the WBC, I try to treat every start the same,\u201d Nolan McLean concluded. \u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s a competition – me vs the batter. I never want to give in and lose any competition that I\u2019m playing in.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>