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Nolan McLean is that dude. You know, the one who can do absolutely everything.
McLean's two-way prowess as a hitter and pitcher in college at Oklahoma State is discussed relatively often for the New York Mets' righty. But also just as noteworthy? He played quarterback for the Cowboys, too.
That right arm, it turns out, wasn't just limited to baseball.
It's taken him a long way -- starting the WBC championship game for Team USA, for example.
Once upon a time, it threw quite the spiral.
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Nolan McLean's QB history
McLean impressed Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy right away in his first fall on campus, writes ESPN's Jeff Passan.
"During that time, we could tell," Gundy told Passan. "Everybody was like, he's going to be really good. He's going to be a two- or three-year starter for us. We knew he was going to be a hell of a quarterback. He had the left-brain function. His mental capacity to think fast, react fast, not let things bother you. Very few kids have that. In my opinion, that's what allows him to be a good pitcher."
McLean left Oklahoma State's football team during his sophomore season.
"If you throw 100 miles an hour," Gundy told Passan, "you need to stay in baseball."
From there, he was a two-way star for Oklahoma State.
The Orioles drafted him in 2022 but didn't sign him due to concerns with his physical. That let the Mets grab him the following year, and he both pitch and hit in that first minor league season.
Once McLean focused only on pitching, he absolutely took off.
Now, the former quarterback is set up to be a potential MLB ace.
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