As spring training winds down, the effervescent hype and intrigue surrounding the 2025 New York Mets only builds and builds. Even as the Opening Day roster reaches its final form, a plethora of young budding prospects and demure depth pieces have continued to shine in recent weeks, making their final bids to join the Mets contingent of players headed to Houston on March 27th.
(Another) top pitching prospect dazzles
For much of spring, Mets fans have waited in earnest to get a look at the organization’s top pitching prospect Brandon Sproat. As question marks still linger around the backend of the Amazins’ starting rotation, Sproat showed his stuff could play, and can become a viable asset to the team within the near future.
But on Tuesday, another top pitching prospect raised some eyebrows; not only twirling three shutout innings but the baseball as well.
Nolan McLean was FILTHY in three scoreless innings yesterday 🤮@nolanmclean11 | @mets pic.twitter.com/7WbFD20nf4
— Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) March 12, 2025
Fifth-ranked Mets prospect Nolan McLean displayed a devastatingly nasty sweeping slider in a Minor League contest against the St. Louis Cardinals. With his Gerrit Cole-esque windup and release, the high scouting ratings surrounding his arm and offspeed pitches were only reinforced.
We have heard about McLean in the past; the Oklahoma State product drafted in the second round by the Mets stirred some attention about progressing through the ranks as a two-way player (a la Shohei Ohtani). But after middling below the Mendoza line last year in Double-A Binghamton, McLean catered his focus to pitching, which yielded far better results.
Barring any injuries or setbacks, the combination of McLean and Sproat could become a source of strength for the Mets’ experimental starting rotation.
The Captain reports to spring training
A welcome sight for all Mets fans, David Wright graced Port St. Lucie with his legendary franchise presence. In the familiar orange and blue, Wright spoke on wearing the uniform for the first time since his farewell game in 2018, appearing as an instructor and mentor for young players synonymous with The Captain’s reputation over the years.
Among his remarks about the current Mets, Wright quipped about being part of the batting lineup, jokingly stating he would hit wherever the top slugger is slotted. With the likes of Lindor, Soto, Alonso, Vientos, and Nimmo, a hypothetical reality where prime David Wright was in the lineup only brings star power and balance to a potent lineup that any Mets fan could dream of.
A possible external option to fill Mets’ catching need
With backstop Francisco Alvarez out for the next several weeks due to a broken hamate bone, the Mets will be looking to Luis Torrens to assume the main catching responsibilities for the bulk of the first weeks of the regular season. Depth-wise, internal options are available with the likes of Hayden Senger, Jakson Reetz, Chris Williams, and possibly Kevin Parada. However, if the Mets were to look outside of the organization, one veteran could be available for a possible trade.
A Sports Illustrated article covering the Texas Rangers posits Tucker Barnhart as an option for the Amazins to pursue. The Rangers have a rather deep catching contingent with Jonah Heim and Kyle Higashioka, who they signed in free agency during the offseason. Assuming Texas breaks camp with the Heim-Higashioka tandem, Barnhart would be on the outside, looking in, beginning the season in Triple-A.
A two-time Gold Glove Award winner, the left-handed hitting Barnhart has posted solid Spring numbers in slashing .350/.381/.400 across 21 plate appearances. While recent seasons have shown poor production at the plate, Barnhart could be a name to consider, without sacrificing much, to at least fill a short-term void until Alvarez returns.
