.jpg)
1 hour ago
3
A rookie is prepared to take the mound for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic championship game.
Nolan McLean will navigate Ronald Acuna Jr., Salvador Perez, and the rest of Venezuela's fierce lineup over All-Stars and Cy Young Award winners like Paul Skenes, Logan Webb, and Matthew Boyd.
McLean has just eight Major League starts under his belt with the New York Mets. However, the USA's coaching staff has a certain level of confidence in the 24-year-old.
"In the eyes of Team USA officials, McLean possesses the best combination of poise and stuff of the available starters," The Athletic's Andy McCullough wrote Tuesday.
Other MLB aces turned down the opportunity
Tarik Skubal made one start for the USA and now has his focus on the upcoming regular season with the Detroit Tigers. However, he's remained in the dugout to support his teammates.
A few of MLB's best arms turned down the opportunity.
"In attempting to build a starting rotation, Team USA contacted other elite arms like Garrett Crochet of the Boston Red Sox, Hunter Brown of the Houston Astros, and Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners, according to a person with knowledge of the situation," McCullough wrote.
"Those negotiations are not as simple as convincing a player to play; there is often lengthy dialogue with the player’s team in order to sign off. For various reasons, those players chose not to participate."
In all likelihood, one of the three pitchers listed by McCullough would have taken McLean's roster spot. Still, it's up to a promising Mets rookie to lead an entire country to victory.
English (US)