Nolan McLean two-way career: Inside 'Cowboy Ohtani''s time as both pitcher and hitter before big leagues

Taking the bump for Team USA in its final group-stage game against Italy is the New York Mets’ Nolan McLean, a rising arm who solidified his status as one of the game’s premier pitching prospects with a dominant 2025 debut.

After a rapid ascent through the minors, McLean moved into the Mets’ rotation last August and proceeded to make MLB history as the first pitcher to win each of his first four career starts, finishing the season with a 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts in just 48 innings. While his electric mid-90s heater and double-plus sweeper have made him a focal point of the Mets’ future rotation, McLean’s professional identity was forged through a rare two-way career that the organization has only recently begun to streamline.

Drafted out of Oklahoma State as both a power-hitting third baseman and a high-velocity closer, he spent his first full pro season in 2024 juggling life as a designated hitter and a starter, slugging eight home runs in limited action before a strategic transition to full-time pitching in late 2025.

Before he takes the mound for Team USA, let’s look back at McLean’s two-way career.

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Inside Nolan McLean's two-way career

Inside the rare two-way career of McLean is a story of raw, explosive power that the Mets have only recently channeled into a singular, elite pitching profile. Before becoming the first pitcher in franchise history to win each of his first four career starts, the North Carolina native was a multifaceted player who briefly juggled three sports at Oklahoma State.

McLean was a top-tier quarterback recruit who initially planned to play both football and baseball for the Cowboys. As a two-way star at Oklahoma State, he functioned as a high-leverage closer and a power-hitting outfielder, once slugging .561 over three collegiate seasons despite high strikeout rates.

When the Mets drafted McLean in the third round in 2023, they initially embraced his dual-threat potential. Throughout 2024, he split time as a designated hitter and a starting pitcher, showcasing flashes by slugging 8 home runs in just 130 at-bats for the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones. However, the internal math shifted as his pitching metrics began to outpace his development at the plate. While his raw power was undeniable, a nearly 50% strikeout rate as a hitter led the organization to move him to full-time pitching in the second half of 2024.

The decision to abandon the bat paid immediate dividends. In 2025, a focused McLean tore through Double-A and Triple-A, posting a 2.45 ERA over 113 innings before his August call-up to Queens.

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Does Nolan McLean bat?

While his mid-90s heater and double-plus sweeper have made him a focal point of the Mets' future rotation, McLean's professional identity was forged through a rare two-way career that the organization only recently began to streamline. Drafted out of Oklahoma State as both a power-hitting third baseman and a high-velocity closer, he spent his first full pro season in 2024 juggling life as a designated hitter and a starter.

During his time as a dual-threat star, fans and analysts dubbed him "Cowboy Ohtani" as a nod to his Oklahoma State roots and his ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball.

McLean flashed that potential by slugging eight home runs in limited action, but the Mets eventually made the strategic decision to have him focus solely on the mound to maximize his elite pitching metrics.

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Nolan McLean batting stats

McLean is strictly a pitcher for Team USA and the Mets today, his "Cowboy Ohtani" nickname came from a prolific — albeit high-strikeout — collegiate and early minor league batting career.

Since moving to full-time pitching in the second half of 2024, he has not recorded a professional at-bat. Here are the stats from his time as a two-way threat.

In his sophomore year at Oklahoma State, McLean lashed .285/.397/.595 with 19 home runs and 47 RBI in 64 games.

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Nolan McLean nickname

The nickname that defined McLean's rise is "Cowboy Ohtani."

Let the record show that @ConnorJRogers, @PSLToFlushing, and The Mets Pod are the originators of the "Cowboy Ohtani" nickname bestowed upon Nolan McLean 🤠 pic.twitter.com/Wl3nDNjB86

The moniker was originally coined by Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo on "The Mets Pod" shortly after he was drafted. It served as a nod to his Oklahoma State roots and his status as a legitimate two-way threat who could touch 98 mph on the mound while launching towering home runs at the plate.

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Nolan McLean age

McLean is 24 years old (born July 24, 2001). The New York Mets selected the Oklahoma State standout in the third round (91st overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft.

After a rapid ascent through the minors, he made his Major League debut on August 16, 2025, against the Seattle Mariners, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings with 8 strikeouts. He went on to become the first pitcher in franchise history to win each of his first four career starts.

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